Dr. Jenny Y.

Mei
Obstetrician & Gynecologist
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California

0:00- 0:06
 Role of Nutrition in fetal brain
development during the critical
period of pregnancy

00:08 – 00:14
 Ideal life environment: Critical for achieving optimal
neurodevelopmental outcomes

Brain Development

influenced by
Spatially and temporally constrained events Suboptimal intrauterine environment.

00:15- 00:31
 Regulate brain development
Nutrients + Growth factors
during fetal life

00:32 – 00:36
Rapid progression of neurological processes

Synapse formation Myelination

Developing brain in utero is vulnerable to nutritional

deficiencies

00:37 – 00:48
Nutritional deficiencies: Regionally distributed within the brain

Striatum Visual and auditory cortices Hippocampus

Rapidly developing in late fetal and early neonatal life.

00:49 – 01:10
 Myelination accelerates during
late fetal and early neonatal life

vulnerable to nutrition
deficiency

Nutrient deficiency can lead to long-term changes in the form and function of
anatomical or neurochemical brain development.
01:11 – 01:27
Each nutrient can have a signature
neurodevelopmental effect

01:28 – 01:34
 Iron deficiency
Most common nutritional deficiency in both developing and developed countries

01:35 – 01:41
Iron Involved with different enzyme systems in the
brain
Cytochrome C oxidase enzyme system

Tyrosine hydroxylase for dopamine

receptor synthesis

Myelination of nerve cells

01:42 – 01:55
 Iron Crucial for the development of
the Frontal Cortex and Basal Ganglia.

01:56 – 02:02
 Broccoli

Beans, lentils,
chickpeas Tofu

Foods high in
iron

02:03 – 02:12
Spinach Fish
 Folic Acid

Important for nerve stem

Deficiency leads to
cell proliferation &
Neural tube defects
differentiation and DNA
biosynthesis.

02:13 – 02:26
 Choline acts as a precursor for the neurotransmitter: Acetylcholine.

Folate-rich foods include:

Dark Green Leafy Beans Peanuts Sun flower Fresh Fruits

Vegetables Whole
Seeds and Juices Grains

02:27 – 02:45
 Vitamin B12
02:46 – 03:04

Required for the

Role in Axon Myelination Protection of neurons formation of Epinephrine
from degeneration hormone and essential
Amino Acids

Fish

B12 Milk
Enriched
food items Chicken
& Eggs

03:05 – 03:17 Supplements

 Zinc has a role in

Regulation of ANS Hippocampal and

DNA synthesis (autonomous nervous Cerebellar Synapse Generation
system) development

03:18 – 03:30
 Zinc-enriched food items

Beans Nuts Whole Dairy

Grain Products

03:31 – 03:37
 Tryptophan is an Amino acid required for:
• Protein
• Muscles
• Enzymes
• Neurotransmitters

Synthesis of Serotonin Production &

Maintenance

Normal fetal brain Normal growth in

development infants

Must be taken from the diet!

03:38 – 04:04
 Milk

Chicken

Foods high in
Tryptophan Oats

Cheese

Nuts
04:05 – 04:13

Seeds
DHA: A potent neurobiological agent,
affects:

Infant
Neuronal Synaptogenesis cognitive and
membrane and myelination visual
structure performance

04:14 – 04:28
 Omega 3 are the main
components of the
membrane that surround
each cell in your body.

Consumed through food and beverages, as the

body cannot make it.

04:29 – 04:42
Foods high in Omega fatty acids include

Fish &
Other Nuts Seeds Plant oil
Seafood

Fortified
Fortified Fortified Yogurt, Infant
Eggs Juices Milk, formulas
beverages

04: 43 – 5:00
Iodine is utilized by the fetus for:

Thyroid hormone-
Neuronal Migration Myelination
dependent neuro
development growth

Begins in the first trimester of pregnancy

05:01 – 05:14
Deficiency in Iodine results in:

Cretinism Developmental delay

05:15 – 05:19
 Iodine-enriched food items

Seaweed Dairy Tuna Shrimp Eggs Fortified

Products table salt

05:20 – 05:28
A well-balanced diet consisting of – Important in
• Protein providing adequate
• Vegetables nutrition for a
• Whole grains healthy pregnancy

Vegetarian patients may require

extra supplements

05:29 – 05:45
Thank you