SMART FATS for ‘growing brains’

Jai Sunthush Abeyewardene

Fats could influence brain development and the most rapid brain growth occurs during the first year of life, with the infant’s brain tripling in size by the first birthday. During this stage of rapid central nervous system growth, the brain uses sixty percent of the total energy consumed by an infant.

Fats make up sixty percent of the brain and the nerves that run every system in the body. So, it stands to reason that the better the fat in the diet, the better the brain. Then again fats are a major component of the brain cell membrane and the myelin sheath around each nerve. So, it makes sense that getting enough fat, and the right kinds of fat, can greatly affect brain development and performance, said Deputy Head (Clinical Schools) in the School of Medicine of the University of Queensland - Australia Professor Geoff Cleghorn when briefing the media on paediatric nutrition recently.

Q: How do you describe your vast experience in the field of child health?

A: It’s vital that all children get the right nutrition to help them grow and develop properly.

That’s why they should be encouraged to eat a varied diet to provide them with all of the nutrients they need.

Sometimes, though, it might not be possible for a child to do this, if they develop a medical condition for instance.

In situations like this, nutritional support may play a key role to ensure that a child receives all of the nutrients they need.

Healthy individuals are a vital ingredient in nation building and I consider my job as a privileged occupation as I have been able to travel a lot and educate people at the same time.

Q: What’s happening in the global child health sector and where does Sri Lanka stand in relation to the advances made in this sphere?

A: Nutrition of children is a globally recognized facet and proper nutrition in childhood can reinforce lifelong eating habits that contribute to children’s overall well being and help them to grow up to their full potential and a healthy life.

I have observed that Sri Lanka has made considerable progress in paediatric nutrition research projects. One noteworthy instance was a child nutrition research project by Dr Pujith Wickramasinghe. I consider Sri Lanka to be far ahead of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal where paediatric nutrition is concerned.

Q: What can you share with Sri Lanka parents on the subject of child health?

A: I have found that Sri Lankan parents are caring but should be concerned of Balance and Moderation when it comes to ‘food’.

Balance really has to do with mixing and matching the types of food we eat to make sure we get enough of the nutrients we need plenty of and not too much of the ones we tend to overdo. By using a balanced eating plan, we get just the right amount of vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, water and fat that our bodies need - and no more.

Perhaps the hardest component of all, though, is moderation. Eating a moderate amount of food can be very challenging. One of the keys to moderation is recognizing and honouring the body’s hunger and fullness cues.

Q: What is the most critical period of a child’s brain growth and development?

A: Young children are constantly growing and the first years are commonly recognized as the ‘critical period’ during which a child’s brain is most sensitive to nutrition.

Milk is an important component of the daily diet. However children aged one to three years have specific nutritional requirements for growth and development and ordinary milk does not cover these nutrient needs.

Q: What is the rule of nutrition during the critical period of growth?

A: Children have high nutritional needs relative to their size and it is essential that their diets are rich in nutrition that comprises of protein - important for body tissue growth, calcium - for optimal gains in bone mass, Vitamin D - to enhance intestinal calcium absorption, docosahexanoic acid (DHA) playing a pivotal role in the brain and retina, gangliosides (GA) - critical for brain cell growth and development, zinc - necessary for immune function and for the transport of oxygen to tissues, selenium - essential for immune function and antioxidant protection, copper - vital to maintain healthy cells, Vitamin A - for immune system functions, Vitamin C - offers antioxidant protection, Vitamin E - strengthens antioxidant protection.

Q: Should parents then consider specialized milk for children over regular full cream milk?

A: Mother Cows provide milk that is high in saturated fats and low in brain-building fats, such as DHA the primary structural component of brain tissue. Although this helps their calves grow rapidly, though it may not do much for their brains. Cows don’t have to do a lot of thinking to survive.

In human infants, however the brain grows faster than the body and highly developed brains are important to human beings. DHA on the other hand stands to reason that a deficiency of it in the diet could translate into a deficiency in brain function. In fact, research is increasingly recognizing the possibility that DHA has a crucial influence on neurotransmitters in the brain, helping brain cells better communicate with each other.