Kids’ nutritional deficits might affect brain health

By Joannie Dobbs and Alan Titchenal

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 17, 2012

~~<p>It is well-known that an adequate supply of all essential nutrients is required for normal brain development of infants and growing children. A limited supply of key nutrients, starting in pregnancy and up to the adult years, can have a profound negative impact on mental functions.</p>
<p>In some developing countries, a variety of nutrient deficiencies cause brain development problems that have severe lifelong consequences. In countries like the United States, however, these nutrient deficiencies may exist in less extreme and less obvious forms, even in people who appear to be eating well. These marginal deficiencies may affect brain function of infants, children and even adolescents in more subtle ways than those seen in developing countries. Could some of these nutrient inadequacies be contributing to increasingly prevalent conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism?</p>
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It is well-known that an adequate supply of all essential nutrients is required for normal brain development of infants and growing children. A limited supply of key nutrients, starting in pregnancy and up to the adult years, can have a profound negative impact on mental functions.

In some developing countries, a variety of nutrient deficiencies cause brain development problems that have severe lifelong consequences. In countries like the United States, however, these nutrient deficiencies may exist in less extreme and less obvious forms, even in people who appear to be eating well. These marginal deficiencies may affect brain function of infants, children and even adolescents in more subtle ways than those seen in developing countries. Could some of these nutrient inadequacies be contributing to increasingly prevalent conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism? Login for more...