Abstract
As neurodevelopmental and neuro-immune-psychiatric issues are increasing at an alarming rate, infants and children are among the most vulnerable populations. Understanding the anatomic and physiologic differences between children and adults is important in addressing nutritional support for metabolic and detoxification pathways, neurotransmitters, and genetic individuality. Supporting gut, brain, and immune health offers children the opportunity to reach their optimal potential.
Children are more vulnerable to toxins and toxicants than adults. This begins at conception and continues as a fetus in the womb. Infants have an immature and porous blood-brain barrier, their gut microbiota colonizes over several years, liver and detoxification pathways are not yet mature, and the immune system continues to develop into adolescence. Due to their smaller size, infants and children eat and breathe more than adults and have a higher metabolic rate making them more susceptible to adverse exposures. Changes in obstetrics, farming, food production, health care, and the sheer number of chemicals, pesticides, and toxins in our daily life contribute to the rapid growth in neurologic, developmental, and autoimmune issues our children face. We need an increasing number of tools to address these issues.
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Haskell, M.A.M. (2020). Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children. In: Noland, D., Drisko, J., Wagner, L. (eds) Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30730-1_30
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