| Nutrition and Neuro Development |
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The role of nutrients brain development in child and adults is very important.
Many of the key nutrients identified important to neurodevelopment include
the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA),
docosohexaenoic acid (DHA) and
arachidonic acid (AA)
DHA, is strongly associated with
fish consumption, but this is also the predominant source of the neurotoxicant
methyl mercury (MeHg).
Iodine: The benefits of optimal iodine or thyroid
status are likely to be directly related to neurodevelopment during
late fetal growth.
Iodine supplementation given before the third
trimester predicted higher psychomotor test scores for
children relative to those provided iodine later in pregnancy
or at two years of age.
Iodine deficiency (ID): this is the single most
important cause of preventable brain damage after starvation.
ID can produce different degrees of mental retardation [www.who.int/inf-
fs/en/fact121.html].
Damages in the Central nervous system are seen in some people with
neurological cretinism, neurological deficits can occur with ID.
Choline appears to be benefical and is found in a range of foods with eggs and fish being a
particularly rich source
Choline: induce spatial memory facilitation in rodents because changes the
distribution and morphology of neurons involved in memory
storage within the brain. Also produce biochemical changes in the
hippocampus via the cholinergic system; and
electrophysiological changes in the hippocampus.
Choline also protects against neurotoxicity in the rat.
Whether these choline availability findings in rats are
applicable to humans is open to conjecture. Certainly, there
are major differences in developmental physiology in that
human and rat brains mature at different rates, the rat brain is
comparatively more mature at birth than is the human brain
while hippocampal development in humans may continue for
months or years after birth.
Iron:
Iron deficiency is very common on many human populations.
Infants are likely to be the most vulnerable during
the brain growth spurt from 6 to 23 months.
Iron deficiency in infants leaves a permanent cognitive deficit
A slowed central neural processing is a
key component in neural dysfunction in iron deficiency, even
without anaemia. The mechanisms associated with
behavioural and cognitive developmental delays observed in
iron-deficient infants include abnormalities in
neurotransmitter metabolism, decreased myelin formation
and alterations in brain metabolism. Some vegetables, meat and fish are
particularly rich sources of dietary iron and also have high
bioavailability.
Zinc and copper are other trace elements, deficiencies of
which are known to cause abnormalities in neurological
development in animals but human data are sparse
Such sequelae appear to be found only in severe deficiencies.
For example, there is no effect of zinc
supplementation of pregnant women (with plasma zinc
concentrations below the established median for gestational
age in the population) on the mental and psychomotor
development of their children at 5 years. Nevertheless fish,
and especially shellfish, are particularly rich in both of these
trace elements. Measurement of body status of either of these
trace elements, however, is fraught with difficulty.
Vitamin B 6 and riboflavin have direct effects on
neurodevelopment both prenatally and postnatally and may
also impact on MeHg toxicity.
| Nutrition and Neuro Development Links |
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Aging, the Brain, and Nutrition
Berry Facts
Blueberries for Your Health
Blueberries May Restore Some Memory, Coordination and Balance Lost with Age
Brain Food: Eat to Nourish Your Brain
Dementia/Mental Impairment
Diet and Menu for Optimizing Nourishment for the Brain
>Diet and the Brain
Dietary essential fatty acids and brain function: a developmental perspective on mechanisms.
Doc Blum: Nutriceuticals for the Millenium
http://www.docbluminc.com/formula.htm Dr. James Joseph
Essential fatty acids and the brain
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA)
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) for Your Health
Essential Fatty Acids Improve Infant IQ
http://www.newhope.com/nutritionsciencenews/NSN_backs/Feb_99/fattyacids.cfm?path=ex Even Mild Vitamin C Deficiency May Have Negative Effect on Vascular Function
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/06/020605073010.htm Fatty Acids [Learning and Behavior Studies]
http://www.itv.com/page.asp?partid=1252 Fruit A Key in the Fight Against Age
The Impact of Essential Fatty Acids on the Brain
Introducing the Brain Food Pyramid
The Linus Pauling Micronutrient Information Center
NeuroGenesis.com
NeuroGenesis Products
New USDA Study Shows Blueberries' Anti-Aging Potential
Wild Berries
NUTRITION AND DISEASE PREVENTION
NUTRITION AND MENTAL HEALTH Nutrition and the Brain
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nutr.html Omega-3 Fatty Acids
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,992,00.html The Power of Blue
http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/031102PowerOfBlue.htm The role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in brain: modulation of rat brain gene expression by dietary n-3 fatty acids
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11880617&dopt=Abstract Science of Strawberries
http://www.1stvitality.co.uk/az/strawberries/ Strawberries
http://www.bellybytes.com/bytes/strawberries.shtml Strawberries May Boost Astronaut Performance
http://www.fruitgrowers.org.nz/orchardist/articles/2002/12-34.htm STAR: Brain Chemistry Type Diet
http://intraspec.ca/star.php Support for Dysthymia and Depression: Vitamin C
http://ivy_league0.tripod.com/rhyme_of_the_ancient_wanderer/id88.html Strawberry Fruit Facts and Information
http://www.bouquetoffruits.com/fruit-facts/strawberry-facts.html Sweet summer treat offers boost for your health, too
http://www.showmenews.com/2004/Jul/20040714Life004.asp Tufts' Blueberries Research Continues to Generate Headlines
USDA Natural Nutrient Database
The Vital Role of Essential Fatty Acids For Pregnant and Nursing Women
Omega 3
VITAMIN C Vitamin C Can Benefit Smokers
Vitamins C and E May Protect Against Mental Decline
Vitamin C May Ward Off Stroke
Your Miracle Brain by Jean Carper (An Excellent Review of Recent Findings of Nutritional Neuroscience)
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