importance of nutrition on development of brain
TRANSCRIPT
Impact of Nutrition on development of
Brain
Vijaya Sawant
Director Oratechsolve Inc
www.oratechsolve.com
Fetal and neonatal malnutrition can have global or circuit-specific effects on
the developing brain
ProteinEnergyCertain fatsIron ZincCopperIodineSeleniumVitamin ACholineFolate
Nutrients have greater effects on brain development
Effect of nutrient Deficiency or Overabundance
on Brain governed by principle
Timing, Dose , Duration
Even though young brain is remarkably plastic and more amenable to repair after nutrient repletion, the brain’s vulnerability to nutritional insults likely outweighs its plasticity.
That is why early nutritional insults result in brain dysfunction not only while the nutrient is in deficit, but also after repletion.
Neurologic processe
s
HippocampusIt is memory that recognizes new information and recent events.
This part of brain acts like a primitive over ride switch meant to stop you from over analyzing in life threatening situations. It comes into play at times of high stress. It is designed for action not diplomacy.
Corpus Striatum(basal ganglia)
Corpus meant a mass of tissue in the body that has a distinct structure or function.
It is connection between cerebral cortex and cerebellum. It helps to regulate automatic movement.
Corpus striata (pural) networks are responsible for managing memorized movement – those we undertake without forethought.
Visual and Auditory Cortices
The auditory cortex and the areas around it are involved in processing language – both spoken and written.There is a visual cortex in each hemisphere of the brain. The left hemisphere visual cortex receives signals from the right visual field and the right visual cortex from the left visual field.
During late fetal and early neonatal life, regions such as the hippocampus, the visual and auditory cortices, and the striatum are undergoing rapid development characterized by the morphogenesis and synaptogenesis that make them functional.
Glial Cells
Functions• To surround neurons and
hold them in place• To supply nutrients and
oxygen to neurons• To insulate one neuron
from another• To destroy and remove
the carcasses of dead neurons
Astrocytes Oligodendrocytes Microglia Schwann Cells
Glial cells provide support and protection for neuronsCentral nervous system consists of neurons and glial cells
Important nutrients during late fetal and neonatal brain
developmentNutrient Brain requirement for the nutrient Predominant brain circuitry
or process affected by deficiency
Protein-energy
Cell Proliferation, cell differentiation Global
Synaptogenesis CortexGrowth factor synthesis Hippocampus
Iron Myelin White matterMonoamine synthesis Striatal-frontalNeuronal and glial energy metabolism Hippocampal-frontal
Zinc DNA synthesis Autonomic nervous systemNeurotransmitter release Hippocampus, cerebellum
Copper Neurotransmitter synthesis, neuronal and glial energy metabolism, antioxidant activity
Cerebellum
LC-PUFAs Synaptogenesis EyeMyelin Cortex
Choline Neurotransmitter synthesis Global
DNA methylation HippocampusMyelin synthesis White matterLC-PUFAs = Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids
Nutrients can affect not only Neuroanatomy, but also Neurochemistry and Neurophysiology.
Electroretinogram (ERG)
Event Retated Potential
(ERP)
Computerized axial
tomography (CAT)
Occipitofrontal head
circumference (OFC)
Types of Brain Development Assessments
ElectroEncephalogram
(EEG)Auditory
Brainstem evoked
response (ABR)
Functional Magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
ElectroEncephalogram
(EEG)Diffusion Tensor
Imaging (DTI)
Visual Evoked
Potential (VEP)
Cambridge Neuropsychological
Test Automated Battery (CANTAB)
Magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI)
Visual Paired Comparison test (VPC)
Delay Non-Match to Sample test
(DNMS) Infrared spectroscopy
(NIRS)
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
Neurodevelopmental Assessments for
Infants between 36 and 44 weeks after conception and relation to specific nutritional deficits
Assessment Brain region or process Risk nutrients
OFC Whole brain Protein-energyNeurologic reflexes Whole brain, nervous
systemProtein-energy
Myelination IronNeurologic examination Whole brain, nervous
systemProtein-energy
CopperEEG maturity Cortex Protein-energy (LC-PUFAs)Stimulated heart rate, blood pressure, salivary cortisol responses
Autonomic nervous system Zinc (Protein-energy)
HPA axisABR, ERG Myelination Iron
Synaptic efficacy LC-PUFAsAuditory ERP Hippocampal function Iron (Zinc) (Choline) (Protein-energy)MRI (Structural) Global and regional volume
and structure(Iron) (Zinc) (Copper) Protein-energy
MR - DTI Myelin and tract integrity (Iron) (Copper) Protein-energyMR – proton spectroscopy Neurochemistry (Iron)
Neurobehavioral and neuroimaging AssessmentsEffects of neonatal nutrients on general brain development during fist 6 years if
postnatal life
Neurologic domain
Risk nutrients for domain
Behavioral assessment
Age of reliability
Neuroimaging technique
Age of reliability
Global function
Protein-energy, iron, zinc, LC-PUFAs
Bayley Scales 12-36 months OFC Any age
WPPSI >4 years MR regional volumetrics
Newborn and >6 years
Myelination Iron Speed of processing
4 months ABR, VEP Any age
LC-PUFAs ERP After termDTI Newborn and
>6 yearsMotor function
Protein-energy
Bayley Scales (PDI)
12 – 36 months Regional MR Newborn and >6 years
Iron Activity Any age Actigraph Any ageCopper Coordination Any age
Neurobehavioral and neuroimaging AssessmentsEffects of neonatal nutrients on cognitive development during fist 6 years of postnatal life
Cognitive domain
Risk nutrients for domain
Behavioral assessment
Age of reliability
Neuroimaging technique
Age of reliability
Explicit recognition memory
Protein-energy, iron, zinc
VPC > 4 months ERP (auditory) Newborn
DNMS > 6 months ERP (visual) > 4 monthsElicited imitation
> 12 months MR volume (hippocampus)
Newborn and > 6 years
Working memory
Protein-energy
Elicited imitation
> 12 months MR volume (prefrontal cortex)
Newborn and > 6 years
Iron CANTAB > 4 yearsfMRI >6 years
Implicit procedural memory
Iron Priming > 4 months MR volume (striatum)
Newborn and > 6 years
fMRI Newborn and > 6 years
Neurobehavioral and neuroimaging AssessmentsEffects of neonatal nutrients on affective development during fist 6 years of postnatal life
Affective domain
Risk nutrients for domain
Behavioral assessment
Age of reliability
Neuroimaging technique
Age of reliability
Attention Iron, zinc Bayley Scales rating
> 12 months MR volume (prefrontal cortex)
Newborn and > 6 years
CANTAB > 4 yearsFlanker task > 5 years
Reactivity (HPA / ANS)
Iron, zinc Response to: > Newborn
Restraint Salivary cortisol Any ageSeparation HR response Any ageImmunization Vagal tone Any age
Social interaction
Iron, zinc Spontaneous movement
Any age fMRI > 6 years
Bayley Scales rating
> 12 months
HPA (Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal) ANS (Autonomic nervous system)
Copper, Iron and Zinc are essential trace nutrients because they cannot be made, or synthesized in the body.
We need Copper for blood vessel formation, a healthy heart, and for stabilizing the collagen, or connective tissue, which binds one part of the body to another. Copper is needed for brain development and for the effective communication between nerve cells in the brain, as well as for healthy bones and teeth.
We need Zinc for biological functions. Zinc’s tasks are growth and fertility, a healthy immune system, and healthy skin, hair, nails and eyes. It plays a crucial role in more than 300 enzymes.
We need Iron because it is an integral part of many proteins and enzymes that maintain good health such as oxygen transport and the regulation of cell growth. Almost 2/3 of iron in the body is found in hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissues.
Recommended Daily IntakesCopper :• 1 mg/day for adults,• 1.3 mg/day for pregnant and
lactating women; Iron:• 8 mg/day for men,• 18 mg/day for women (27
mg/day in pregnancy); Zinc :• 15 mg/day for men, • 12 mg/day for women.
Educating pregnant women
on importance of eating
balanced healthy diet
Email: [email protected]
Healthy Nation = Healthy Mothers + Healthy
Children Reference: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/85/2/614S.full