Factors such as high-energy foods and portion size affect nutrition and may have different effects on the child's brain. Nutrient deficiencies directly affect the neurodevelopmental period. Malnutrition affects a child's behavior and experiences, which in turn affects brain development. In order to prevent the effects of malnutrition on the child's brain, balanced and adequate nutrition must be provided starting from the pregnancy period, because the foundations of cognitive, motor and social-emotional development begin to be laid starting from the pregnancy period. Children who have problems in these areas of development in early childhood may have neurodevelopmental problems in later years.
Nutrition affects the brain in two stages; The first is that it directly affects brain functions, and the other is that it indirectly affects the brain by affecting the child's behavior. The first stage occurs during pregnancy and infancy. In these periods, the deficiency of nutrients affects the structural and functional development of the brain, and this period is the period when the development of the brain is fastest. A study on this subject has shown that a 30% decrease in maternal nutritional intake during the first half of pregnancy does not affect the birth weight of the baby, affects the mother's weight only slightly, but fetal brain development is negatively affected (Antonow-Schlorke, 2011). Therefore, it has been proven that nutritional deficiency affects brain functions even if there are no visible symptoms.
Second; The child's experiences and environment are important factors in brain development and the development of cognitive, motor and social-emotional skills. Malnutrition affects physical growth, motor development and physical activity. This situation can affect brain development through both the behavior of the caregiver and the child's interaction with the environment.
Effects of Nutrients on Brain Development
Protein Energy Malnutrition: Chronic malnutrition is related to decreased motor and cognitive development. In the period from the first year of life to school age, children whose height and body weight are low for their age have better motor and cognitive development and school success compared to their peers of normal height and weight. is less. Thus, chronic malnutrition in the early period of life appears to have long-term consequences on brain development (Grantham-McGregor,2005).
Breast Milk: Neurodevelopmental outcomes of babies fed with breast milk are better. (Özmert,2005). The positive effect of breast milk on cognitive development is due to the content of breast milk and breastfeeding experience. Breast milk contains hormones, growth factors and appropriate nutrients that are important for brain development. In addition, breastfeeding supports the mother-infant relationship and increases mother-infant interaction, which is important for socio-emotional and cognitive development (Reynolds,2001).
Essential Fatty Acids: Essential fatty acids and Their derivatives (docosahexanoic acid and arachidonic acid) are part of the structure of brain tissue. Essential fatty acids are necessary for biological processes, but since they cannot be synthesized in the body, they must be taken with food (Uauy, 2006).
Iron: Iron uptake in the brain occurs through transferrin receptors on the endothelial surfaces of microvessels. This intake increases during periods when rapid brain growth and myelogenesis peak, and continues throughout life (Özmert, 2005).
Iodine: Iodine deficiency is still one of the most important non-genetic congenital neurological disorders worldwide. Nutrition is the cause of cretinism and severe mental retardation (Özmert, 2005). Iodine deficiency affects the child's brain development (Delange, 2001).
Zinc: Zinc is a trace element found in the brain and contributing to the structure and functions of the brain. Zinc deficiency can cause disorders in children's neuropsychological functions, activity or motor development, and thus affect cognitive performance (Black, 1998).
Adequate intake of nutrients during pregnancy and infancy is necessary for brain development. In addition, the child's interaction with his environment and caregivers provides the necessary experience for optimal brain development. Chronic malnutrition, iron deficiency anemia and iodine deficiency negatively affect the development of the child's cognitive, motor and socio-emotional skills, which leads to inadequate school success and perception. These results To prevent the impact of malnutrition on brain development; During pregnancy and infancy, multiple nutrients and essential fatty acid supplements including iron should be given, exclusive breastfeeding should be encouraged in the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding until the age of two, iodized salt should be used to prevent iodine deficiency, and adequate and balanced nutrition should be encouraged. Nutrition education should be given to families.
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