How does the food in the first 1000 days affect infant and toddler brain development?

Abstract

Today, hundreds of millions of children under the age of 5 fall short of their development potential. Advances in neuroscience have confirmed that adult health and well-being are based on the developmental conditions and opportunities they had in early childhood, from conception to 24 months (first 1000 days) and then to the age of 5 (second 1000 days). Young children, who eat a healthy balanced diet, who are treated with care and attention, and who have more opportunities to learn, have a better chance to thrive. Data from a survey of adopted children, as well as experimental and quasi-experimental studies, showed that prevention of stunting is most effective during the first 1000 days and developmental delays in both the first and second 1000 days. External factors affect cognitive development significantly less after this period, and the older a person becomes, the less effective educational programs are, and the longer it takes to learn a new skill. In this regard, it is necessary to identify the degree of influence of nutrient components, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and lutein, on the cognitive development of the child in the first year of life, as it determines the intellectual potential of the person throughout life. The goal of this review is to review the existing literature to find out how certain food components (polyunsaturated fatty acids and lutein) affect infant and toddler brain development.

Keywords: omega-3, omega-6, polyunsaturated fatty acids, lutein, cognitive development