Neurocognitive Functions in Infants with Malnutrition; Relation with Long-chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Micronutrients Levels and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Abstract

PurposeMalnutrition may influence neurocognitive development in children by directly affecting the brain structural development, or indirectly by affecting the children's cognition experience. Malnutrition alters the cell numbers, cell migration, synaptogenesis, and neurotransmission due to inadequate availability of necessary micronutrients to support cell growth. We aimed to analyze neurocognitive development in infants with malnutrition and its association with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), micronutrients levels and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings.MethodsThe study included two groups; group 1, infants with malnutrition (n=24), group 2; healthy infants (n=21). Peripheral blood was obtained from the participants for studying micronutrients and LC-PUFA levels. The neurocognitive development was analyzed by the use of an Ankara Developmental Screening Inventory test. MRS were performed on all infants.ResultsAll parameters of neurocognitive development and serum calcium (9.6±0.9 mg/dL vs. 10.4±0.3 mg/dL, p<0.05) and magnesium (2.02±0.27 mg/dL vs. 2.2±0.14 mg/dL, p<0.05) levels were noted as being low in infants with marked malnutrition. No difference was found in LC-PUFA levels between healthy and malnourished infants. Thalamic choline/creatine levels were significantly high in infants with malnutrition (1.33±0.22 vs. 1.18±0.22, p<0.05). Total neurocognitive development in infants was positively correlated with serum calcium levels (p<0.05, r=0.381).ConclusionCalcium supplementation may improve neurocognitive development in malnourished infants.

Developmental Status With Malnourished Children: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

“…El-khayat H et al used BSID II and found de inite neurodevelopment problem in malnourished children. Deviation from normal Tables 1 and 2 also increased with increasing severity of malnutrition in this study (El-khayat et al, 2007;Cakir et al, 2019).…”

“…Developmental evaluation is de ined as information on individuals' skills and potential (Cakir et al, 2019;Chopra and Sharma, 1992;Paul and Bagga, 2019). It is used to assess the existence of a developmental delay, to identify needs and strengths, to establish intervention approaches, to evaluate progress on signi icant developmental milestones and to serve as a basis for parental reporting (Paul and Bagga, 2019;Ke et al, 2005).…”

Physicians' Understanding of Nutritional Factors Determining Brain Development and Cognition in the Middle East and Africa

“…Long-term dietary variation in selenium influences oxidative stress that impacts cognitive functions [14]. Total neurocognitive development in infants was positively associated with serum calcium levels [15]. Therefore, calcium supplementation may improve neurocognitive development in malnourished infants [15].…”

“…Total neurocognitive development in infants was positively associated with serum calcium levels [15]. Therefore, calcium supplementation may improve neurocognitive development in malnourished infants [15]. Low vitamin D status in pregnancy is associated with offspring language and motor development, particularly in young children [16].…”

Low Tissue Creatine: A Therapeutic Target in Clinical Nutrition

“…Interestingly, it appears that a reduction in myocardial creatine significantly correlates with the clinical severity of heart failure [ 24 ], with tissue creatine put forward as an independent multivariate predictor of cardiovascular mortality in patients with failing hearts [ 25 , 26 ]. Tissue creatine levels were also diminished in the skeletal muscle and brain of patients with chronic respiratory failure [ 27 , 28 ], extracts from lung cancer patients [ 29 ], pancreatic parenchyma in patients with adenocarcinoma [ 30 ], in the brain of patients with hepatitis C and chronic HIV infection [ 31 , 32 ], and in the thalamus of infants with malnutrition [ 33 ], while suboptimal creatine levels are suggested in chronic kidney disease [ 34 ], and preterm birth [ 35 ]. Although the causes of the above conditions are different, they all share a disease-associated creatine deficit.…”