Skip to main content

Effects of Malnutrition on Brain Development

  • Chapter
Biology of Brain Dysfunction

Abstract

During the past 15 years, it has become increasingly clear that severe malnutrition imposed during certain critical periods of development will affect brain growth and function. Because infantile malnutrition still constitutes one of the greatest health problems in the world, since even by conservative estimates 300 million people may have been afflicted by malnutrition in infancy, it would seem important to examine, critically, the evidence upon which this statement is based. The purpose of this chapter is to review normal brain growth, to examine the data leading up to the “critical periods” hypothesis, and to document the effects of undernutrition during these critical periods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. M. Enesco and C. P. Leblond, Increase in cell number as a factor in the growth of the organs and tissues of the young male rat, J. Embryol. Exptl. Morphol. 10:530–562, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  2. L. W. Lapham, Tetraploid DNA content of Purkinje neurons of human cerebellar cortex, Science 159:310–312, 1968.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. M. Winick and A. Noble, Quantitative changes in DNA, RNA, and protein during prenatal and postnatal growth in the rat, Develop. Biol. 12:451–466, 1965.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. I. Fish and M. Winick, Cellular growth in various regions of the developing rat brain, Pediat. Res. 3:407–412, 1969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. J. Altman and G. Das, Autoradiographic and histological studies of postnatal neurogenesis. I. A longitudinal investigation of the kinetics, migration and transformation of cells incorporating tritiated thymidine in infant rats with special reference to postnatal neurogenesis in some brain regions, J.Comp. Neurol. 126:337–360, 1966.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. M. Winick, Changes in nucleic acid and protein content of the human brain during growth, Pediat. Res. 2:352–355, 1968.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. J. Dobbing and J. Sands, Timing of neuroblast multiplication in developing human brain, Nature 226:639–640, 1970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. M. Winick, P. Rosso, and J. Waterlow, Cellular growth of cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem in normal and marasmic children, Exptl. Neurol. 26:393–400, 1970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. S. Duckett and A. G. Pearse, The chemo-architectonic patterns of the cerebral cortex of the embryonic and fetal human brain, in “Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress of Neuropathology,” p. 738, Pub. Excerpta Medica Foundations International Congress Series, No. 100.

    Google Scholar 

  10. S. Duckett and A. G. Pearse, Monamine cells in the developing human cortex, Rev. Can. Biol. 26:173–174, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  11. S. Duckett and A. G. Pearse, The cells of Cajal-Retzius in the developing human brain, J.Anat. 102:183–186, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  12. S. Duckett and A. G. Pearse, The histoenzymology of the developing human spinal cord, Anat. Rec. 163:59–61, 1969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. D. Nachmansohn, in “Modern Trends in Physiology and Biochemistry” (E. S. G. Barron, ed.), pp. 236–276, Academic Press, New York, 1952.

    Google Scholar 

  14. I. J. Holstein, W. A. Fish, and W. M. Stokes, Pathway of cholesterol biosynthesis in the brain of the neonatal rat, J.Lipid Res. 7:364–368, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  15. D. Kritchevsky and W. L. Holmes, Occurrence of demosterol in developing rat brain, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 7:128–130, 1962.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. C. W. M. Adams and A. N. Davison, The occurrence of sterified cholesterol in the developing nervous system, J.Neurochem. 4:282–289, 1959.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. G. Rouser and A. Yamamoto, in “Handbook of Neurochemistry” (A. Lajtha, ed.), Vol. 1, p. 121, Plenum Press, New York, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  18. L. Svennerholm, Distribution and fatty acid composition of phosphoglycerides in normal human brain, J.Lipid Res. 9:570–579, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  19. H. Wiegardt, The subcellular localization of gangliosides in the brain, J.Neurochem. 14:671–674, 1967.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. F. Le Baron, in “Handbook of Neurochemistry” (A. Lajtha, ed.), Vol. 3, p. 561, Plenum Press, New York, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  21. W. Sperry, in “Neurochemistry” (K. A. C. Elliott, I. H. Page, and J. H. Quastel, eds.), pp. 55–84, C. C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill., 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  22. A. N. Davison and J. Dobbing, in “Applied Neurochemistry” (A. N. Davison and J. Dobbing, eds.), pp. 253–286, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford and Edinburgh, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  23. G. Brante, Studies on lipids in nervous system with special reference to quantitative chemical determination and topical distribution, Acta Physiol. Scand. 18:1–189, 1949 (Suppl. 63).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. A. H. Tingey, Human brain lipids at various ages in relation to myelination, J.Ment. Sci. (London) 102:429–435, 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  25. J. N. Cummings, H. Goodwin, E. M. Woodward, and G. Curzong, Lipids in the brain of infants and children, J.Neurochem. 2:289–294, 1958.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. E. Howard and D. M. Granoff, Effect of neonatal food restriction in mice on brain growth, DNA and cholesterol on adult delayed response learning, J.Nutrition 95:111–121, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  27. J. Altman, in “Handbook of Neurochemistry” (A. Lajtha, ed.), Vol.2, p. 137, Plenum Press, New York, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  28. R. P. Bunge, Glial cells and the central myelin sheath, Physiol. Rev. 48:197–243, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  29. P. Rosso, J. Hormazbel, and M. Winick, Changes in brain weight, cholesterol, phospholipid and DNA content in marasmic children, Am. J. Clin. Nutrition 23:1275–1279, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  30. M. Winick, Nutrition and nerve cell growth, Fed. Proc. 29:1510–1515, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  31. E. M. Widdowson and R. A. McCance, Some effects of accelerating growth. I. General somatic development, Proc. Roy. Soc. London 152:88–206, 1960.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. J. W. T. Dickerson, J. Dobbing, and R. A. McCance, The effect of undernutrition on the postnatal development of the brain and cord in pigs, Proc. Roy. Soc. London 166:396–407, 1966–1967.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. C. M. Jackson and C. A. Steward, The effects of inanition in the young upon the ultimate size of the body and of the various organs in the albino rat, J.Exptl. Zool. 30:97–128, 1920.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. M. Winick and A. Noble, Cellular response in rats during malnutrition at various ages, J.Nutrition 89:300–306, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  35. M. Winick and A. Noble, Cellular response with increased feeding in neonatal rats, J.Nutrition 91:179–182, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  36. M. Winick, I. Fish, and P. Rosso, Cellular recovery in rat tissues after a brief period of neonatal malnutrition, J.Nutrition 95:623–626, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  37. A. N. Davison and J. Dobbing, Myelination as a vulnerable period in brain development, Brit. Med. Bull. 22:40–44, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  38. H. P. Chase, J. Dorsey, and G. M. McKhann, The effect of malnutrition on the synthesis of a myelin lipid, Pediatrics 40:551–559, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  39. B. S. Platt, Proteins in nutrition, Proc. Roy. Soc. London 156:337–344, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  40. B. S. Platt, C. R. C. Heard, and R. J. C. Steward, in “Mammalian Protein Metabolism” (A. N. Munro and J. B. Alison, eds.), Academic Press, New York, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  41. F. S. Zeman and E. C. Stanbrough, Effect of maternal protein deficiency on cellular development in the fetal rat, J.Nutrition 99:274–281, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  42. M. Winick and P. Rosso, The effect of severe early malnutrition on cellular growth of human brain, Pediat. Res. 3:181–184, 1969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. M. Winick, in “Diagnosis and Treatment of Fetal Disorders” (K. Adamsons, ed.), Springer-Verlag, New York, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  44. S. Zamenhof, E. Van Marthens, and F. L. Margolis, DNA (cell number) and protein in neonatal brain: Alteration by maternal dietary protein restriction, Science 160:322–330, 1968.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. M. Winick, Cellular changes during placental and fetal growth, Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 109:166–176, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  46. M. Winick and E. Velasco, The effect of maternal protein restriction on cellular growth of the offspring, in “Proceedings of the Eighth International Congress of Nutrition,” Prague, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  47. E. M. Widdowson, Malnutrition during pregnancy and early neonatal life, Presented at the Symposium on Fetal Malnutrition, New York, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  48. M. Winick, Cellular growth of the human placenta. III. Intrauterine growth failure, J. Pediat. 71:390–395, 1967.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. C. A. Smith, Effects of maternal undernutrition upon the newborn infant in Holland, J. Pediat. 30:229–243, 1947.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1973 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Winick, M., Rosso, P. (1973). Effects of Malnutrition on Brain Development. In: Gaull, G.E. (eds) Biology of Brain Dysfunction. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2667-0_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-2667-0_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-2669-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-2667-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics