Lifebrain Monthly E-newsletter November 2018

Are special nutrients required for the brain?

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Are special nutrients required for the brain?

The brain is essential for living a good life with the ability to sense (see, hear, smell, taste, feel). Although the brain is only about 2 % of total body weight (~ 1.4 kg in an adult), this vital organ uses approximately 20 % of total body energy consumption. Thus, the metabolic rate is very high in the brain. Under normal conditions the brain uses almost exclusively glucose as its energy source. During long-term fasting the brain can also utilize ketone bodies like acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate, which are break-down products of fatty acids.

Source: Colourbox

Like all other tissues in the body, the brain is a dynamic organ under continuous changes depending on what challenges it is exposed to, and what nutrients are supplied. Most of the known 40 essential nutrients for humans are crucial, directly or indirectly, because many metabolic processes taking place in the brain also take place in other tissues of the body. Certain nutrients such as essential fatty acids, choline/betaine/B-vitamins, iodine, iron, retinol, vitamin D and total energy supply are particularly important for brain function during fetal and childhood development. However, also in adult life nutrient intake is important for brain function. Some studies suggest that B-vitamins as well as essential fatty acids may have roles in preventing mild cognitive impairment.

Source: Colourbox

Brain high in fats

Based on the composition, it is striking that a very high content of the brain is lipids. Apart from 77 % of water, 10-12 % of the brain is lipid. This makes the brain the most lipid rich organ of the body, except for adipose tissues. It is to be noted that the lipid fraction of the brain contains very high levels of the essential omega-3 (eicosapetaenoic = EPA and docosapentaenoic = DHA) and omega-6 fatty acids (arachidonic acid, for short = AA in the figure below).

Figure 1. Fatty acid composition of human postmortem prefrontal frontal cortex from normal men (n=15) and women (n=15) aged 29–45 years old at time of accidental deaths.
(From McNamara RK, Carlson SE: Role of omega-3 fatty acids in brain development and function: potential implications for the pathogenesis and prevention of psychopathology. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2006, 75, 329-49).

Fatty acids important for brain development in infants

Several studies indicate that the supply of the most sparse essential fatty acids (external nutrients required for normal cell function) in modern diets are important for the composition as well as the function (cognition) of the brain in normal and premature infants. Fatty fish and cod liver oil are important sources of the marine omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) and should be included in the diet in gram quantities (See our dietary recommendations at the Lifebrain website).
The effects of iodine and B-vitamins on brain function will be discussed in future newsletters.

Source of newsletter

This newsletter was edited by Edited by Christian A. Drevon, Lifebrain researcher. Professor emeritus of Medicine (nutrition) at the University of Oslo, and consultant in the analytical contract laboratory Vitas Ltd. in Oslo Science Park. Has studied effects of nutrients and physical activity on health, with special focus on molecular nutrition and biomarkers.

The referred studies

Henriksen C et al.: Growth, metabolic markers, and cognition in 8-year old children born prematurely, follow-up of a randomized controlled trial with essential fatty acids. European Journal of Pediatrics 2016 Sep;175(9):1165-1174.

Henriksen C et al.: Improved cognitive development among preterm infants attributable to early supplementation of human milk with docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid. Pediatrics. 2008, 121(6):1137-45.

Helland IB et al. Maternal supplementation with very-long-chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation augments children's IQ at 4 years of age. Pediatrics. 2003, 111(1):39-44

CONTACT US

Your comments are always valuable to us, so do not hesitate to contact us.

Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition at the University of Oslo
Kristine B. Walhovd project coordinator
Barbara B. Friedman administrative coordinator
e-mail: info@lifebrain.uio.no
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This project has received funding from the European Union ’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 732592.