BACKGROUND: Nutrition is one of many factors that affect brain development and functioning, and in recent years the role of certain nutrients has been investigated. B vitamins and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are two of the most promising and widely studied nutritional factors. METHODS: In this review, we provide an overview of human studies published before August 2011 on how vitamin B(6), folate, vitamin B(12) and n-3 PUFA may affect the brain, their nutrient status and the existing evidence for an association between these nutrients and brain development, brain functioning and depression during different stages of the life cycle. RESULTS: No recommendation can be given regarding a role of B vitamins, either because the number of studies on B vitamins is too limited (pregnant and lactating women and children) or the studies are not consistent (adults and elderly). For n-3 PUFA, observational evidence may be suggestive of a beneficial effect; however, this has not yet been sufficiently replicated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). CONCLUSIONS: We found that the existing evidence from observational studies as well as RCTs is generally too limited and contradictory to draw firm conclusions. More research is needed, particularly a combination of good-quality long-term prospective studies and well-designed RCTs.
BACKGROUND: Nutrition is one of many factors that affect brain development and functioning, and in recent years the role of certain nutrients has been investigated. B vitamins and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are two of the most promising and widely studied nutritional factors. METHODS: In this review, we provide an overview of human studies published before August 2011 on how vitamin B(6), folate, vitamin B(12) and n-3 PUFA may affect the brain, their nutrient status and the existing evidence for an association between these nutrients and brain development, brain functioning and depression during different stages of the life cycle. RESULTS: No recommendation can be given regarding a role of B vitamins, either because the number of studies on B vitamins is too limited (pregnant and lactating women and children) or the studies are not consistent (adults and elderly). For n-3 PUFA, observational evidence may be suggestive of a beneficial effect; however, this has not yet been sufficiently replicated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). CONCLUSIONS: We found that the existing evidence from observational studies as well as RCTs is generally too limited and contradictory to draw firm conclusions. More research is needed, particularly a combination of good-quality long-term prospective studies and well-designed RCTs.
Authors: Ondine van de Rest; Yamin Wang; Lisa L Barnes; Christine Tangney; David A Bennett; Martha Clare Morris Journal: Neurology Date: 2016-05-04 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Ingrid Kvestad; Sunita Taneja; Tivendra Kumar; Mari Hysing; Helga Refsum; Chittaranjan S Yajnik; Nita Bhandari; Tor A Strand Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-06-22 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Philippa A Jackson; Joanne S Forster; J Gordon Bell; James R Dick; Irene Younger; David O Kennedy Journal: Nutrients Date: 2016-02-09 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: Sigrun Henjum; Ingrid Kvestad; Merina Shrestha; Manjeswori Ulak; Ram K Chandyo; Andrew L Thorne-Lyman; Prakash S Shrestha; Marian Kjellevold; Mari Hysing; Tor A Strand Journal: Nutr J Date: 2018-07-19 Impact factor: 3.271
Authors: Ram K Chandyo; Manjeswori Ulak; Ingrid Kvestad; Merina Shrestha; Suman Ranjitkar; Sudha Basnet; Mari Hysing; Laxman Shrestha; Tor A Strand Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2017-08-29 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Brita Askeland Winje; Ingrid Kvestad; Srinivasan Krishnamachari; Karim Manji; Sunita Taneja; David C Bellinger; Nita Bhandari; Shruti Bisht; Anne Marie Darling; Christopher P Duggan; Wafaie Fawzi; Mari Hysing; Tivendra Kumar; Anura V Kurpad; Christopher R Sudfeld; Erling Svensen; Susan Thomas; Tor A Strand Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2018-02-22 Impact factor: 2.692