Developmental Neuroscience

Lipids and Brain Development

The Role of Dietary n–6 and n–3 Fatty Acids in the Developing Brain

Innis S.M.

Author affiliations

Department of Paediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Keywords: Docosahexaenoic acidArachidonic acidInfant nutritionBrain developmentDopamineSerotonin

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Dev Neurosci 2000;22:474–480
https://doi.org/10.1159/000017478

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Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview
Abstract of Lipids and Brain Development

Published online: December 04, 2000
Issue release date: December 2000

Number of Print Pages: 7
Number of Figures: 1
Number of Tables: 2

ISSN: 0378-5866 (Print)
eISSN: 1421-9859 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/DNE

Abstract

The dietary requirements for essential fatty acids and the possibility of a specific role for the polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is one of the most controversial areas in infant nutrition. DHA is found in unusually high concentrations in the brain and is selectively accumulated during fetal and infant brain growth. DHA can be synthesised through a complex series of chain elongation-desaturation reactions from α-linolenic acid, but the efficiency of this process in young infants is not clear. Clinical studies on the potential benefits to neural development of dietary DHA have yielded conflicting results. Recent studies have provided evidence that plasma DHA is available to developing brain and that DHA is involved in dopamine and serotonin metabolism. These findings should guide clinical studies to more sensitive measures of the functional roles of dietary n–3 fatty acids and to clinical conditions where n–3 fatty acids may have benefit.

© 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel



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Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview
Abstract of Lipids and Brain Development

Published online: December 04, 2000
Issue release date: December 2000

Number of Print Pages: 7
Number of Figures: 1
Number of Tables: 2

ISSN: 0378-5866 (Print)
eISSN: 1421-9859 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/DNE

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2000, Vol.22, No. 5-6

December 2000

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