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: info@oratechsolve.com

Healthy Nation = Healthy Mothers + Healthy

Children Reference: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/85/2/614S.full