Nutrients play a significant role in brain development throughout fetal and postnatal life. This book reviews the evidence from animal and human research, highlighting the influence of specific nutrients on brain function and cognitive development. With a unique, integrative approach to the nutritional, environmental, and genetic influences on brain development, the book examines issues such as single versus multiple limiting nutrients, critical periods of deficiency, and the impact of the child-parent relationship on the architecture of the developing brain. The effect of undernutrition on the developing brain of infants and young children can be devastating and enduring. It can impede behavioural and cognitive development and educability, thereby undermining future work productivity. Chapter authors are experts in this field of research and provide an up-to-date insight into the role of the individual nutrients in brain development and function.

The effect of nutrition on the vital process of brain development has received increased attention in the last two decades. Using animal models, experimental research scientists have accumulated a wealth of infor mation and epidemiological studies of field workers have brought the animals and human studies together. Most times, there is an agreement on the results of animal and human experiences, but occasionally a voice of uncertainty is heard when results of animal studies are extrapolated to humans. After all, the human brain is far more complex than that of other species, and comparisons are not always accurate. Behavioral sci entists have attempted to correlate the findings of the biochemists and neurochemists to the "working" of the brain. Severe effects of malnutrition on body growth and function can usually be reversed by corrective procedures. But when such effects include the impact on brain development, the outcome can be devas tating. Underdevelopment of the brain caused by malnutrition during early life may not respond to corrective measures in later life. Undoubt edly this is a very controversial issue and the final verdict has not been reached. Unfortunately, even with today's tremendous technological innovations and applications, there are millions of people, including infants and children, who cannot obtain adequate food and are therefore exposed to damaging effects on the orderly development of the central vii PREFACE viii nervous system. Thus, this is a critical issue to many struggling popu lations who can ill afford such deprivation.

The effect of nutrition on the vital process of brain development has received increased attention in the last two decades. Using animal models, experimental research scientists have accumulated a wealth of infor mation and epidemiological studies of field workers have brought the animals and human studies together. Most times, there is an agreement on the results of animal and human experiences, but occasionally a voice of uncertainty is heard when results of animal studies are extrapolated to humans. After all, the human brain is far more complex than that of other species, and comparisons are not always accurate. Behavioral sci entists have attempted to correlate the findings of the biochemists and neurochemists to the "working" of the brain. Severe effects of malnutrition on body growth and function can usually be reversed by corrective procedures. But when such effects include the impact on brain development, the outcome can be devas tating. Underdevelopment of the brain caused by malnutrition during early life may not respond to corrective measures in later life. Undoubt edly this is a very controversial issue and the final verdict has not been reached. Unfortunately, even with today's tremendous technological innovations and applications, there are millions of people, including infants and children, who cannot obtain adequate food and are therefore exposed to damaging effects on the orderly development of the central vii PREFACE viii nervous system. Thus, this is a critical issue to many struggling popu lations who can ill afford such deprivation.

This reference addresses basic principles and concepts that are central to the major clinical nutrition-related activities, such as nutritional assessment and monitoring, current theoretical base and knowledge of efficacious interventions, interactions between genetic and nutritional factors, and the use and interpretation of population-based or clinical epidemiological evidence.

The papers presented at this conference discuss the proper maturation of the brain and the development of optimum intelligence in a child, which depends on three essential factors: the inborn genetic directives, the complexity of the environment, and adequate nutrition. Overall, the conference participants examine the impact of nutritional and social parameters on anatomic and neurochemical maturation of the infant brain.

This book's objective is to provide a focused overview (morphological, biochemical, and functional) of brain development, to exemplify the role of lipids in the important developmental events, and to develop the concepts explaining why physiological changes in brain lipid composition potentially alter these events.