(22-03-11) Effects of maternal malnutrition and postnatal nutritional rehabilitation on brain fatty acids, learning, and memory.

de Souza AS, Fernandes FS, Tavares do Carmo MG.

Instituto de Nutri??o Josu? de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Abstract
Undernutrition still affects mothers and children in developing countries and
thus remains the major focus of nutritional intervention efforts. Neuronal
development, which classically includes neurogenesis, migration, maturation,
and synapse refinement, begins in utero and continues into the early postnatal
period. These processes are not only genetically regulated but also clearly
susceptible to environmental manipulation. Dietary deprivation during early
life is known to have adverse effects on brain anatomy, physiology, and
biochemistry, and may even lead to permanent brain damage. Although all
nutrients are important for the structural development of the central nervous
system, lipids such as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially
docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3) and arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6), are important
for normal brain development. The purpose of this literature review is to
examine how early undernutrition involving a deficiency in long-chain
polyunsaturated fatty acids can affect brain development and function and
produce deficits in spatial cognitive learning ability.

Source: Nutr Rev. 2011 Mar;69(3):132-44. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00374.x. Epub
2011 Feb 14.

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