Infant development
Supplements studied for infant development.
Overview
Seven supplements are indexed for infant development (27 studies), all with low-to-modest ratings. Taurine (WA 40; very low effect size, high evidence, medium trust; 6 studies) links higher maternal dietary intake to slightly larger birth size, but taurine-enriched formula did not change early growth versus standard formula. Choline (7 studies) shows mixed associations with later cognitive scores. Vitamin D (6 studies) produced no clear developmental differences at age two in healthy infants, with mixed pregnancy data.
Algal Oil (3 studies) did not improve vision or early development to one year but may have minor motor or attention effects later. Multivitamin evidence is insufficient.
See the heatmap and evidence reviews below for details.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
| Vitamin D | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Choline | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Vitamin A | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Multivitamin | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Algal Oil | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Taurine | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
| Phosphatidylcholine | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
7 supplements for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
CholineView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It’s not clear if taking choline supplements during pregnancy helps infant brain development.
- Some studies suggest that pregnant women who consume more choline in the later months of pregnancy may have babies with better memory, cognitive skills, and visual abilities as they grow.
- For example, higher choline levels in the mother’s blood were linked to higher cognitive scores in babies at 18 months.
- Other studies, however, did not find clear benefits on child intelligence or development.
Browse 7 studies·1 meta-analysis
MetaAssociation between Maternal Choline, Fetal Brain Development, and Child Neurocognition: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Human Studies2022n=13
A meta-analysis of human studies found low maternal choline intake associated with higher odds of neural tube defects (pooled OR 1.36) and higher maternal choline likely linked to better child memory, attention, and visuospatial learning.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 550–1000 mg/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 13
RCTPrenatal choline supplementation improves child sustained attention: A 7-year follow-up of a randomized controlled feeding trial2022n=20
In a 7-year follow-up of 20 children, those whose mothers consumed 930 mg/day choline in the third trimester showed better sustained attention than those receiving 480 mg/day.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 480–930 mg/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 20
- Ages
- 18–65
ObservationalMaternal prenatal choline and inflammation effects on 4-year-olds' performance on the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-IV2021n=48
In 48 children at age 4, maternal plasma choline above 7.07 µM at 16 weeks gestation was associated with better processing speed, especially when maternal CRP was elevated.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Pregnant women
- Participants
- 48
- Ages
- 18–65
ObservationalCholine intake during pregnancy and child cognition at age 7 years2013n=895
In 895 mother-child pairs, second-trimester choline intake in the top quartile was associated with 1.4 points higher child visual memory at age 7 versus the bottom quartile.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Pregnant women
- Participants
- 895
- Avg age
- ~7
ObservationalEarly second trimester maternal plasma choline and betaine are related to measures of early cognitive development in term infants2012
In 154 mother-infant pairs, higher maternal plasma choline and betaine at 16 weeks gestation were associated with better infant cognitive scores at 18 months.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 16 weeks
- Dose
- 98.6 mg/day
- Population
- Women
ObservationalMaternal intake of methyl-donor nutrients and child cognition at 3 years of age2012n=1,210
In 1,210 pregnancies, higher first-trimester folate intake was associated with better receptive language at age 3; choline, betaine, and methionine showed no significant cognitive associations.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 600 mcg/day
- Population
- Pregnant women
- Participants
- 1,210
- Ages
- 18–65
Choline concentrations in human maternal and cord blood and intelligence at 5 y of age2008n=404
In 404 mother-child pairs, maternal and cord blood choline concentrations across pregnancy were not associated with child IQ at age 5.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 36–38 weeks
- Dose
- 4 g/day
- Population
- Pregnant women
- Participants
- 404
- Ages
- 18–65
Vitamin DView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear if giving babies vitamin D in higher doses than usual helps their brain development.
- Studies in healthy babies found no difference in thinking skills at age 2 between those who took higher or standard vitamin D doses.
- Research in pregnant women is mixed: some studies show moms with very low vitamin D might have babies with smaller heads, lower thinking skills, or higher chances of autism and ADHD, while others find no difference in movement skills.
- Giving pregnant women more vitamin D late in pregnancy does not seem to help their children’s brain development up to age 6.
Browse 6 studies·2 meta-analyses
RCTEffect of High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Neurodevelopment of Healthy Term Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial2021n=495
In a RCT of 801 infants, high-dose 1,200 IU/day vitamin D3 for 2 years did not improve neurodevelopment scores versus standard 400 IU/day, though externalizing problems were more common at high dose.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 3 months
- Dose
- 1200 IU/day
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Participants
- 495
- Ages
- 0–2
ObservationalMaternal Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D during Gestation Is Positively Associated with Neurocognitive Development in Offspring at Age 4-6 Years2021n=1,503
In 1,019 mother-child pairs, each 10 ng/mL increase in second-trimester maternal 25(OH)D was associated with 1.17 points higher child IQ at ages 4–6 years.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 1,503
- Ages
- 4–6
RCTHigh-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation in Pregnancy and Neurodevelopment in Childhood: A Prespecified Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial2020n=551
In a RCT of 551 children, high-dose 2,800 IU/day vitamin D3 during the third trimester did not improve neurodevelopment through age 6 and was linked to lower word production at age 2.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 800 IU/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 551
- Ages
- 0–6
MetaNeurodevelopmental effects of prenatal vitamin D in humans: systematic review and meta-analysis2020
A meta-analysis found higher prenatal 25(OH)D was associated with better cognition and lower ADHD risk (RR 0.72) and autism-related traits (OR 0.42) in offspring.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Women
MetaVitamin D status during pregnancy and offspring outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies2020
A meta-analysis of 54 observational studies found maternal vitamin D deficiency below 30 nmol/L was linked to lower birthweight, higher preterm birth risk (OR 1.59), and adverse neurodevelopmental scores.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 87.82 g/day
- Population
- Pregnant women
RCTEffect of vitamin D supplementation, directly or via breast milk for term infants, on serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D and related biochemistry, and propensity to infection: a randomised placebo-controlled trial2016
In a RCT of 230 mother-newborn pairs in India, maternal or infant vitamin D supplementation for 9 months reduced respiratory infection days and raised infant 25(OH)D versus sun exposure alone.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 9 months
- Dose
- 10 mcg/day
- Population
- Infants
Algal OilView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Giving breastfeeding mothers DHA-enriched algal oil for 4 months after delivery does not appear to improve their babies' vision or early development at up to 1 year of age.
- It may slightly help children's motor skills at 2.5 years and attention at 5 years.
Browse 3 studies
RCTPrenatal supplementation with DHA improves attention at 5 y of age: a randomized controlled trial2016n=1,094
An RCT in 1094 pregnant Mexican women found prenatal DHA 400 mg/day from 18–22 weeks did not improve child attention at age 5 years versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 18–22 weeks
- Dose
- 400 mg/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 1,094
Effects of early maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake on neuropsychological status and visual acuity at five years of age of breast-fed term infants2010
A follow-up of breastfed infants whose mothers received DHA ~200 mg/day for 4 months found no lasting neuropsychological or visual benefit at age 5 years versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 4 months
- Dose
- 200 mg/day
- Population
- Women
RCTEffects of maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake on visual function and neurodevelopment in breastfed term infants2005
An RCT in breastfeeding women receiving high-DHA algal oil found increased infant plasma DHA but no significant neurodevelopmental benefit in breastfed term infants at follow-up.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 4 months
- Dose
- 200 mg/day
- Population
- Women
MultivitaminView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- There is not enough evidence to determine if multivitamin supplementation has any benefit for infant development.
Browse 2 studies·2 meta-analyses
MetaEffects of prenatal small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements on pregnancy, birth, and infant outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data from randomized controlled trials in low- and middle-income countries2024n=5,273
A meta-analysis of 5,273 pregnant women found prenatal small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements improved birth outcomes but effects varied by formulation.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Pregnant women
- Participants
- 5,273
Systematic reviewInterventions to improve linear growth during exclusive breastfeeding life-stage for children aged 0-6 months living in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review with network and pairwise meta-analyses2020
A systematic review found micronutrient interventions during exclusive breastfeeding had inconsistent effects on infant linear growth.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 0–6 months
- Population
- Children/adolescents
- Ages
- 0–6
Vitamin AView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Giving very small premature babies vitamin A by injection can lower their chance of serious lung problems.
- Early research hints that vitamin A combined with a breathing treatment might help some babies’ mental development after one year.
- But overall, vitamin A injections do not appear to improve brain development in very small premature babies.
Browse 2 studies·1 meta-analysis
MetaVitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short- and long-term morbidity in very low birth weight infants2016n=120
A meta-analysis of 120 studies found that there was a marginal reduction of the combined outcome of death or chronic lung disease (typical RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.01; typical RD -0.05, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.01; 4 studies, 1089 infants).
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 18–22 months
- Population
- Infants
- Participants
- 120
RCTEffects of early inhaled nitric oxide therapy and vitamin A supplementation on the risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature newborns with respiratory failure2014n=793
A randomized trial of 793 infants found that combined therapy improved Bayley Scales of Infant Development II Mental and Psychomotor Developmental Index scores at 1 year compared with infants treated solely with iNO for the 500-749 g birth weight group.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 21 days
- Dose
- 500–749 g/day
- Population
- Infants
- Participants
- 793
TaurineView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Mothers who eat more taurine in their diet may have babies who are slightly longer and heavier at birth.
- However, giving babies infant formula with taurine does not seem to affect their growth or development during the first few months compared to formula without taurine.
Browse 6 studies
ObservationalRelation of Taurine Intake During Pregnancy and Newborns' Growth2019
In pregnant women, higher maternal taurine intake was associated with better newborn growth outcomes in this observational analysis.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 120 mg/day
- Population
- Women
MetaEffect of taurine supplementation on growth and development in preterm or low birth weight infants2007n=189
A review of preterm and low-birth-weight infant trials found taurine supplementation may support growth and development, though evidence quality varied across studies.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Infants
- Participants
- 189
RCTTaurine supplementation prevents hyperaminoacidemia in growing term infants fed high-protein cow's milk formula1996
In term infants fed high-protein cow's milk formula, taurine supplementation reduced hyperaminoacidemia versus unsupplemented formula.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 2–12 weeks
- Dose
- 7.0–7.3 mg
- Population
- Infants
Controlled trialTaurine and cholesterol supplementation in the term infant: responses of growth and metabolism1990
In term infants, taurine and cholesterol supplementation to whey-predominant formula did not significantly alter growth versus unsupplemented formula.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Population
- Infants
RCTRandomized trial of taurine supplementation for infants less than or equal to 1,300-gram birth weight: effect on auditory brainstem-evoked responses1989n=19
In preterm infants ≤1300 g birth weight, taurine supplementation did not significantly improve growth versus control formula in this randomized trial.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 300 g/day
- Population
- Infants
- Participants
- 19
RCTFeeding the low-birth-weight infant: I. Taurine and cholesterol supplementation of formula does not affect growth and metabolism1983
In preterm infants, taurine and cholesterol fortification of formula did not significantly improve fat absorption or growth versus standard formula.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 31–36 weeks
- Dose
- 1.5 g/day
- Population
- Infants
PhosphatidylcholineView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear if taking phosphatidylcholine during pregnancy and after birth helps infants develop better thinking skills.
- One study found no improvement in infant cognitive function at about 1 year of age compared to placebo.
- More research is needed.
Browse 1 study
RCTPhosphatidylcholine supplementation in pregnant women consuming moderate-choline diets does not enhance infant cognitive function: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial2012n=99
In 99 pregnant women, phosphatidylcholine 750 mg/day from 18 weeks gestation did not enhance infant cognitive outcomes at 10–12 months versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 750 mg
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 99
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.
| Supplement | DEX | Studies | Meta-analyses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choline | ★★★★★52% | 7 | 1 | 26% |
| Taurine | ★★★★★40% | 6 | 0 | 22% |
| Vitamin D | ★★★★★52% | 6 | 2 | 22% |
| Algal Oil | ★★★★★48% | 3 | 0 | 11% |
| Multivitamin | ★★★★★48% | 2 | 2 | 7% |
| Vitamin A | ★★★★★48% | 2 | 1 | 7% |
| Phosphatidylcholine | ★★★★★32% | 1 | 0 | 4% |