Food neuropsychology and child brain development

Accumulated adverse events, including insufficient nutrition, throughout pregnancy and infancy can disrupt brain development as well as early learning and cognition. Food neuropsychology research in childhood investigates the pathway from prenatal and postnatal nutrient supply to long-term brain function and mental health. Adequate food supply and nutrition from conception through infancy play an essential role in normal brain development and cognitive functioning and may also influence vulnerability to mental disease later in life. Neurodevelopmental processes, such as neuron proliferation, myelination and synaptogenesis, occur rapidly during pregnancy and infancy and are critically dependent on a sufficient supply of a variety of nutrients, including protein, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, iodine, iron and zinc. The investigation of the molecular basis of food effects on cognition and mood will help ascertain early-life nutritional requirements in order that brain functions and mental fitness may be enhanced. There is currently no convincing evidence of beneficial effects of nutrients or food bioactives in child mental disorders. Numerous issues in the examination of the effects of specific nutrients, including the identification of nutrients critical at different phases of brain development and the optimal dosage and duration of supplementation, require further research.

Download Full-text

Análise da Revisão Cochrane: Suplementação Alimentar com Ácidos Gordos Ómega-3 no Tratamento da Demência. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;4:CD009002.

Acta Médica Portuguesa ◽

10.20344/amp.9743 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 30 (10) ◽

pp. 671

Author(s):

David Cordeiro Sousa ◽

Guilherme Ferreira Dos SANTOS ◽

João Costa ◽

António Vaz-Carneiro

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Convincing Evidence ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Brain Functions ◽

Cochrane Database

Dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish and plant sources is commonly prescribed as a nonfarmacological alternative to improve brain functions and slow down the progression of dementia. This use is mostly based on findings of preclinical studies which established the role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the development and integrity of the brain, as well as epidemiological research that found evidence of malnutrition in patients with dementia. This Cochrane systematic review included three randomized, placebo-controlled trials at low risk of bias, in which omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were administered to people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease in the form of supplements. Of the main results of this systematic review we highlight the lack of convincing evidence for the efficacy of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation in the treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the low frequency of reported adverse events, with a comparable overall frequency between omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the placebo groups. The effects on other populations with dementia remain unclear. This paper aims to summarize and discuss the main results and conclusions of this systematic review, as well as its implications for the daily clinical practice.

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Neuroimaging studies of normal brain development and their relevance for understanding childhood neuropsychiatric disorders.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1128875.585969 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel Dickstein

Keyword(s):

Brain Development ◽

Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽

Normal Brain ◽

Normal Brain Development

Download Full-text

Human Milk and Brain Development in Infants

Reproductive Medicine ◽

10.3390/reprodmed2020011 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 107-117

Author(s):

Martina Chiurazzi ◽

Mauro Cozzolino ◽

Tilman Reinelt ◽

Thi Dao Nguyen ◽

Stefanie Elke Chie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Milk ◽

Brain Development ◽

Epigenetic Modifications ◽

Cutting Edge ◽

Unique Combination ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Ideal Composition

Human milk is considered the most advantageous source of nourishment for infants. Even though there is no ideal composition of human milk, it still contains a unique combination of components that contribute to brain development. The aim of this review is to provide an overview on the possible correlation of human milk with the neurodevelopment of infants, with a special emphasis on myelination and epigenetic modifications. Research in human milk is a rapidly expanding field and cutting-edge technologies might contribute to identify specific mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects on human milk on neurodevelopment.

Download Full-text

Can Natural Products Exert Neuroprotection without Crossing the Blood–Brain Barrier?

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22073356 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 3356

Author(s):

Manon Leclerc ◽

Stéphanie Dudonné ◽

Frédéric Calon

Keyword(s):

Natural Products ◽

Blood Brain Barrier ◽

Brain Barrier ◽

Brain Diseases ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Indirect Pathway ◽

Brain Functions ◽

Blood Brain ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Peripheral Metabolism

The scope of evidence on the neuroprotective impact of natural products has been greatly extended in recent years. However, a key question that remains to be answered is whether natural products act directly on targets located in the central nervous system (CNS), or whether they act indirectly through other mechanisms in the periphery. While molecules utilized for brain diseases are typically bestowed with a capacity to cross the blood–brain barrier, it has been recently uncovered that peripheral metabolism impacts brain functions, including cognition. The gut–microbiota–brain axis is receiving increasing attention as another indirect pathway for orally administered compounds to act on the CNS. In this review, we will briefly explore these possibilities focusing on two classes of natural products: omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) from marine sources and polyphenols from plants. The former will be used as an example of a natural product with relatively high brain bioavailability but with tightly regulated transport and metabolism, and the latter as an example of natural compounds with low brain bioavailability, yet with a growing amount of preclinical and clinical evidence of efficacy. In conclusion, it is proposed that bioavailability data should be sought early in the development of natural products to help identifying relevant mechanisms and potential impact on prevalent CNS disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Download Full-text

Milk Fatty Acid Profiles in Different Animal Species: Focus on the Potential Effect of Selected PUFAs on Metabolism and Brain Functions

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13041111 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1111

Author(s):

Maria P. Mollica ◽

Giovanna Trinchese ◽

Fabiano Cimmino ◽

Eduardo Penna ◽

Gina Cavaliere ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Human Health ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Animal Species ◽

Essential Fatty Acids ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Milk Fatty Acids ◽

Brain Functions ◽

The Impact

Milk contains several important nutrients that are beneficial for human health. This review considers the nutritional qualities of essential fatty acids (FAs), especially omega-3 (ω-3) and omega-6 (ω-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) present in milk from ruminant and non-ruminant species. In particular, the impact of milk fatty acids on metabolism is discussed, including its effects on the central nervous system. In addition, we presented data indicating how animal feeding—the main way to modify milk fat composition—may have a potential impact on human health, and how rearing and feeding systems strongly affect milk quality within the same animal species. Finally, we have presented the results of in vivo studies aimed at supporting the beneficial effects of milk FA intake in animal models, and the factors limiting their transferability to humans were discussed.

Download Full-text

Effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplements on psychopathology and metabolic parameters in schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Journal of Psychopharmacology ◽

10.1177/0269881120981392 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 221-235

Author(s):

Kah K Goh ◽

Cynthia Yi-An Chen ◽

Chun-Hsin Chen ◽

Mong-Liang Lu

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Metabolic Parameters ◽

Favorable Effect ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Optimal Dosage ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Randomized Controlled

Background: Several monotherapy and augmentation strategies have been introduced to improve the treatment of schizophrenia. The benefits of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with mental disorders is becoming increasingly acknowledged. However, its role in the treatment of schizophrenia raises complex considerations about which there has been little consensus. The aim of this study was to synthesize the findings of randomized controlled trials that were conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: The MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant literature. The primary outcome was changes in psychopathology and the secondary outcomes were changes in metabolic parameters and safety profiles. Results: Twenty double-blind randomized controlled trials in 1494 patients were included. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids augmentation was associated with significantly improved psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia, particularly general psychopathology and positive symptoms but not negative symptoms. Patients who were severely ill and received omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids containing eicosapentaenoic acid >1 g/d showed significant improvement. A favorable effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplements on serum triglycerides was also demonstrated. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are well-tolerated and safe in patients with schizophrenia. Conclusions: These findings tentatively support the use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as a potential augmentation strategy in schizophrenia. Further research in larger samples is warranted to clarify the optimal dosage and the correct proportions of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to administer, together with elucidation of the underlying mechanisms.

Download Full-text