Impact of Key Nutrients on Brain and Executive Function Development in Infants and Toddlers: A Narrative Review

Nithya Franklyn; Dhanasekhar Kesavelu; Prameela Joji; Rahul Verma; Arun Wadhwa; Chandan Ray

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14

| Peer-Reviewed

Impact of Key Nutrients on Brain and Executive Function Development in Infants and Toddlers: A Narrative Review

Nithya Franklyn, Dhanasekhar Kesavelu, Prameela Joji, Rahul Verma, Arun Wadhwa, Chandan Ray

Published in Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 10, Issue 1)

Received: 15 December 2021 Accepted: 6 January 2022 Published: 21 January 2022

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Abstract

Executive function skills are an essential aspect of cognition and are influenced in early life by multiple factors. One of the significant factors that influence brain development is nutrition, which plays a specific role in the brain’s developmental processes and functioning from fetal to adult age. Infants in their early life rely on breastmilk for nutrition. Knowledge of the composition of breast milk and the biochemical composition of the brain has led to the identification of critical nutrients needed for the brain’s growth, development, and functioning. Key nutrients for brain development are those that, when deficient during the precise, sensitive periods of early brain development, could have long-term adverse effects on brain functioning. This narrative review highlights the importance of some key nutrients in early brain development and executive functions, including cognitive performances in infants and toddlers. Lipids are crucial for brain development. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and sphingomyelin are the key ingredients to influence cognitive performance potentially. Early development of executive function precursors in infants and toddlers is an essential foundation for executive functions outcomes in early childhood or adulthood. Evidence suggests that specific nutrients such as phospholipids, including sphingomyelin and LC-PUFAs (docosahexaenoic acid), are essential for developing higher-level cognitive functions.

Published in	Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 10, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14
Page(s)	19-26
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Executive Function, Cognitive Skills, Brain Development, Long-chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, LC-PUFA, Sphingomyelin, Docosahexaenoic Acid, DHA

References

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Nithya Franklyn, Dhanasekhar Kesavelu, Prameela Joji, Rahul Verma, Arun Wadhwa, et al. (2022). Impact of Key Nutrients on Brain and Executive Function Development in Infants and Toddlers: A Narrative Review. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 10(1), 19-26. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14

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ACS Style

Nithya Franklyn; Dhanasekhar Kesavelu; Prameela Joji; Rahul Verma; Arun Wadhwa, et al. Impact of Key Nutrients on Brain and Executive Function Development in Infants and Toddlers: A Narrative Review. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2022, 10(1), 19-26. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14

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AMA Style

Nithya Franklyn, Dhanasekhar Kesavelu, Prameela Joji, Rahul Verma, Arun Wadhwa, et al. Impact of Key Nutrients on Brain and Executive Function Development in Infants and Toddlers: A Narrative Review. J Food Nutr Sci. 2022;10(1):19-26. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14

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@article{10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14,
  author = {Nithya Franklyn and Dhanasekhar Kesavelu and Prameela Joji and Rahul Verma and Arun Wadhwa and Chandan Ray},
  title = {Impact of Key Nutrients on Brain and Executive Function Development in Infants and Toddlers: A Narrative Review},
  journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
  volume = {10},
  number = {1},
  pages = {19-26},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20221001.14},
  abstract = {Executive function skills are an essential aspect of cognition and are influenced in early life by multiple factors. One of the significant factors that influence brain development is nutrition, which plays a specific role in the brain’s developmental processes and functioning from fetal to adult age. Infants in their early life rely on breastmilk for nutrition. Knowledge of the composition of breast milk and the biochemical composition of the brain has led to the identification of critical nutrients needed for the brain’s growth, development, and functioning. Key nutrients for brain development are those that, when deficient during the precise, sensitive periods of early brain development, could have long-term adverse effects on brain functioning. This narrative review highlights the importance of some key nutrients in early brain development and executive functions, including cognitive performances in infants and toddlers. Lipids are crucial for brain development. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and sphingomyelin are the key ingredients to influence cognitive performance potentially. Early development of executive function precursors in infants and toddlers is an essential foundation for executive functions outcomes in early childhood or adulthood. Evidence suggests that specific nutrients such as phospholipids, including sphingomyelin and LC-PUFAs (docosahexaenoic acid), are essential for developing higher-level cognitive functions.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Impact of Key Nutrients on Brain and Executive Function Development in Infants and Toddlers: A Narrative Review
AU  - Nithya Franklyn
AU  - Dhanasekhar Kesavelu
AU  - Prameela Joji
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T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
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UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14
AB  - Executive function skills are an essential aspect of cognition and are influenced in early life by multiple factors. One of the significant factors that influence brain development is nutrition, which plays a specific role in the brain’s developmental processes and functioning from fetal to adult age. Infants in their early life rely on breastmilk for nutrition. Knowledge of the composition of breast milk and the biochemical composition of the brain has led to the identification of critical nutrients needed for the brain’s growth, development, and functioning. Key nutrients for brain development are those that, when deficient during the precise, sensitive periods of early brain development, could have long-term adverse effects on brain functioning. This narrative review highlights the importance of some key nutrients in early brain development and executive functions, including cognitive performances in infants and toddlers. Lipids are crucial for brain development. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and sphingomyelin are the key ingredients to influence cognitive performance potentially. Early development of executive function precursors in infants and toddlers is an essential foundation for executive functions outcomes in early childhood or adulthood. Evidence suggests that specific nutrients such as phospholipids, including sphingomyelin and LC-PUFAs (docosahexaenoic acid), are essential for developing higher-level cognitive functions.
VL  - 10
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Author Information

Nithya Franklyn

Department of Pediatrics, Vihaa Multispeciality Hospital, Chennai, India
Dhanasekhar Kesavelu

Department of Pediatrics, Apollo Children’s Hospital, Chennai, India
Prameela Joji

Pediatrics ICU and Medical Support, KIMS Health, Trivandrum, India
Rahul Verma

Department of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, India
Arun Wadhwa

Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Arun Wadhwa Clinic, New Delhi, India
Chandan Ray

Department of Pediatrics, Bhagirathi Neotia Women and Child Care Centre, Kolkata, India

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Nithya Franklyn, Dhanasekhar Kesavelu, Prameela Joji, Rahul Verma, Arun Wadhwa, et al. (2022). Impact of Key Nutrients on Brain and Executive Function Development in Infants and Toddlers: A Narrative Review. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 10(1), 19-26. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14

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ACS Style

Nithya Franklyn; Dhanasekhar Kesavelu; Prameela Joji; Rahul Verma; Arun Wadhwa, et al. Impact of Key Nutrients on Brain and Executive Function Development in Infants and Toddlers: A Narrative Review. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2022, 10(1), 19-26. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14

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AMA Style

Nithya Franklyn, Dhanasekhar Kesavelu, Prameela Joji, Rahul Verma, Arun Wadhwa, et al. Impact of Key Nutrients on Brain and Executive Function Development in Infants and Toddlers: A Narrative Review. J Food Nutr Sci. 2022;10(1):19-26. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14

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@article{10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14,
  author = {Nithya Franklyn and Dhanasekhar Kesavelu and Prameela Joji and Rahul Verma and Arun Wadhwa and Chandan Ray},
  title = {Impact of Key Nutrients on Brain and Executive Function Development in Infants and Toddlers: A Narrative Review},
  journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
  volume = {10},
  number = {1},
  pages = {19-26},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20221001.14},
  abstract = {Executive function skills are an essential aspect of cognition and are influenced in early life by multiple factors. One of the significant factors that influence brain development is nutrition, which plays a specific role in the brain’s developmental processes and functioning from fetal to adult age. Infants in their early life rely on breastmilk for nutrition. Knowledge of the composition of breast milk and the biochemical composition of the brain has led to the identification of critical nutrients needed for the brain’s growth, development, and functioning. Key nutrients for brain development are those that, when deficient during the precise, sensitive periods of early brain development, could have long-term adverse effects on brain functioning. This narrative review highlights the importance of some key nutrients in early brain development and executive functions, including cognitive performances in infants and toddlers. Lipids are crucial for brain development. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and sphingomyelin are the key ingredients to influence cognitive performance potentially. Early development of executive function precursors in infants and toddlers is an essential foundation for executive functions outcomes in early childhood or adulthood. Evidence suggests that specific nutrients such as phospholipids, including sphingomyelin and LC-PUFAs (docosahexaenoic acid), are essential for developing higher-level cognitive functions.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Impact of Key Nutrients on Brain and Executive Function Development in Infants and Toddlers: A Narrative Review
AU  - Nithya Franklyn
AU  - Dhanasekhar Kesavelu
AU  - Prameela Joji
AU  - Rahul Verma
AU  - Arun Wadhwa
AU  - Chandan Ray
Y1  - 2022/01/21
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14
T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
SP  - 19
EP  - 26
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7293
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20221001.14
AB  - Executive function skills are an essential aspect of cognition and are influenced in early life by multiple factors. One of the significant factors that influence brain development is nutrition, which plays a specific role in the brain’s developmental processes and functioning from fetal to adult age. Infants in their early life rely on breastmilk for nutrition. Knowledge of the composition of breast milk and the biochemical composition of the brain has led to the identification of critical nutrients needed for the brain’s growth, development, and functioning. Key nutrients for brain development are those that, when deficient during the precise, sensitive periods of early brain development, could have long-term adverse effects on brain functioning. This narrative review highlights the importance of some key nutrients in early brain development and executive functions, including cognitive performances in infants and toddlers. Lipids are crucial for brain development. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and sphingomyelin are the key ingredients to influence cognitive performance potentially. Early development of executive function precursors in infants and toddlers is an essential foundation for executive functions outcomes in early childhood or adulthood. Evidence suggests that specific nutrients such as phospholipids, including sphingomyelin and LC-PUFAs (docosahexaenoic acid), are essential for developing higher-level cognitive functions.
VL  - 10
IS  - 1
ER  -

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