brain developmentIt is a fact that almost two-thirds of the structural material of the human brain is lipid which is composed of cholesterol and phophoglycerides rich in arachidonic acid and DHA. It is therefore understandable that dietary supply of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) or the omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids is limiting for brain growth. In the rods of the retina, DHA accounts for 50-60% of the phosphoglycerides embedding rhodopsin and the G-Protein. DHA is therefore central to receptor and neural transmission system on which brain function depends.

Studies conducted on rhesus monkeys subjected to omega 3 fatty acids deficiency revealed that progressive depletion of docosahexaenoic acid from neural and retinal phospholipids followed by significant impairment of visual acuity, abnormalities in the electroretinogram and polydypsia. Evidence indicates that both omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are limiting for brain growth and that neural integrity can be permanently disturbed by deficiency of both omega 6 and omega 3 essential fatty acids. Intrauterine growth retardation caused by omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids deficiency in pregnancy may therefore affect both physical and mental development of the infant.

The above observations point to the important role of essential fatty acids in ensuring maternal nutrition, good pregnancy outcome and optimal growth and development of the offspring in the intrauterine phase and in the infancy. Therefore, it is very important that a pregnant woman should be sufficient in nutrients such essential fatty acids from green leafy vegetables and other living plants for the proper brain development of her child in her womb.

 

Mike Maunu – Founder
Oxygen4Life.com

Share

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.