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Impact of a Nutrient Formulation on Longitudinal Myelination, Cognition, and Behavior from Birth to 2 Years: A

Nora Schneider1, Mickaël Hartweg2, Jonathan O'Regan3

  • 1Brain Health, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., 1010 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Nutrients
|October 28, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Early nutrition significantly impacts infant brain development. A 12-month nutritional intervention improved myelination, cognition, and behavior in healthy infants, suggesting modifiable brain development through targeted nutrition.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Early life nutrition is linked to brain myelination.
  • Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm nutritional impacts on infant brain development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of a 12-month nutritional intervention on infant myelination, cognition, and behavior.
  • To assess if targeted nutrition can modify brain development in healthy infants.

Main Methods:

  • A two-center randomized controlled trial involving 81 neurotypical infants.
  • Intervention group received higher nutrient levels; control group received lower levels.
  • Outcomes measured via MRI for myelination, neurodevelopmental scales, and behavioral/sleep questionnaires.

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher myelination in the intervention group at multiple time points (6-24 months).
  • Improved gray matter volume, reduced night awakenings, increased day sleep, and reduced social fearfulness observed.
  • Breastfed infants served as a reference group.

Conclusions:

  • Brain development in healthy infants is modifiable through targeted nutritional interventions.
  • Specific nutrient blends may support myelination and cognitive/behavioral outcomes.
  • Nutritional strategies may be foundational for later learning.

Keywords:
MRIbrain developmentinfant nutritionmyelinationphospholipidssphingomyelin

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