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Low plasma taurine and later neurodevelopment
B A Wharton1, R Morley, E B Isaacs
1Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, London WC1 1EH, UK. bwharton@ich.ucl.ac.uk
Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition
|October 23, 2004
Insights
Dietary taurine intake is crucial for infant neurodevelopment, potentially explaining breast milk benefits. Low taurine levels in newborns were linked to poorer cognitive scores later in childhood.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Breast milk provides taurine, an amino acid vital for infant development.
- Preterm formulas aim to mimic breast milk's nutritional profile.
- The role of taurine in neurodevelopment requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between neonatal taurine levels and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- To assess the potential impact of dietary taurine on cognitive development in infants.
Main Methods:
- Plasma taurine levels were measured in neonates.
- Neurodevelopmental assessments, including the Bayley Mental Development Index and WISC-R arithmetic subtest, were conducted at 18 months and 7 years, respectively.
- Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between taurine levels and cognitive scores.
Main Results:
- Lower plasma taurine concentrations in neonates were significantly associated with lower Bayley Mental Development Index scores at 18 months.
- A similar association was observed between low neonatal taurine and reduced performance on the WISC-R arithmetic subtest at 7 years.
- These findings suggest a critical role for taurine in early brain development.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal taurine status is a potential predictor of cognitive development.
- Current infant formulas do not have mandatory taurine fortification, which may warrant reconsideration.
- Ensuring adequate taurine intake during infancy is important for optimal neurodevelopment.
Abstract:
Dietary taurine intake may explain the benefits of both breast milk and preterm formula to neurodevelopment. Low plasma neonatal taurine was associated with lower scores on the Bayley mental development index at 18 months and the WISC-R arithmetic subtest at 7 years. Currently it is not mandatory to add taurine to infant formulas.
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