Timing of the 6 Vital Nutrients
In addition to the inclusion of these nutrients into a mother's and infant's diet, the timing of when these nutrients are most obtained by the mother and child is essential to proper brain development in an infant. This is because of sensitive or critical periods when "if a certain nutrient is not received at a particular time, the results will be profound and irreversible" (Cheatham 28).
Preconception
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"It is important for women of child-bearing age to have the proper nutrients on board in the event of unanticipated pregnancy"
(Cheatham 21)
Folate & Iodine
Folate:
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Addition of folate into a woman's diet "starting 28 days before conception proved to lower the incidence of [neural tube defects]..." (Cheatham 21)
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Its effects are optimal when taken with choline as well.
Iodine:
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Important component in the process of making thyroid hormones, which play vital roles in various neural processes.
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"During pregnancy, iodine requirements increase because there is an increased need for thyroid hormones" (Cheatham 22).
Prenatal
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"Fetal neural development is dependent on the nutritional environment in utero"
(Cheatham 22)
Vitamin D, Iron, DHA, & Choline
Vitamin D
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Better gestational vitamin D supplementation leads to better language abilities and overall mental health and functioning.
Iron
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"Fetal iron sufficiency supports neural energy metabolism, the development of" vital components of the nervous system (Cheatham 23).
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Women who are capable of having children should consume proper amounts of iron to prepare to share with the fetus.
DHA
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"The omega-3 fatty acid DHA is integral to cellular and neural function" (Cheatham 24).
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"The fetus requires high amounts of maternal fatty acids" (Cheatham 24).
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DHA can improve overall cognitive and mental health and development.
Choline
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Essential in fetal development of tissues, nervous system, genes, and metabolic pathways.
Postnatal
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"Brain development continues into the second decade of life... optimal nutrition is needed to support the brain not only during that period of time, but across a lifespan"
(Cheatham 25)
Iron, DHA, & Choline
Iron:​
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Improves memory and attention development in the infant.
DHA:
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Aids in the proper development of cognitive abilities
Choline:
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Proper supplementation leads to high visual perception and coordination abilities in infants
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It is "beneficial in neural inhibition development" (Cheatham 27).
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It can even "prevent effects of fetal alcohol exposure" (Cheatham 27)!
Effects of the Timing of the 6 Vital Nutrients
As addressed above, the timing of these nutrients is extremely important to fetal and infant brain development. If these nutrients are obtained within the "sensitive periods", many positive effects can be seen in the overall development of infants, as discussed above. If these nutrients are not obtained within these critical periods, however, there can be detrimental effects on fetal and infant brain development.