Background: Edible mushrooms have long been recognized for their nutritional value. In the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study, a prebirth cohort study, we examined the association between maternal mushroom intake during pregnancy and risk of childhood behavioral problems in Japanese 5-year-olds.
Methods: A total of 1199 mother-child pairs were included as study subjects. In the baseline survey, dietary intake was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. In the follow-up survey, emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, peer problems, and low prosocial behavior were assessed using the parent-reported version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjustments were made for a priori-selected non-dietary confounders and potentially related dietary factors.
Results: A significant inverse exposure-response association was observed between maternal mushroom consumption during pregnancy and risk of childhood peer problems (adjusted odds ratio [OR] between extreme quartiles, 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31-1.07, p for trend = 0.02) and low prosocial behavior (adjusted OR between extreme quartiles, 0.64; 95% CI: 0.43-0.95, p for trend = 0.02).
Conclusion: Higher maternal intake levels of mushrooms during pregnancy may be associated with a decreased risk of peer problems and a decreased risk of low prosocial behavior in 5-year-old children.
Keywords: Japanese children; behavioral problems; maternal diet; mushrooms; pregnancy; vegetables.
© 2026 The Author(s). Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Dietetic Association.