Abstract
It is doubtful if a dietary deficiency specifically of protein occurs in man without an accompanying degree of energy deficiency. The brain is particularly vulnerable to protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) during its growth spurt. Differences in the growth characteristics of different parts of the brain account for differing degrees of vulnerability within the brain.
Delays in cell replication and in the growth and development of structural components, and particularly of the myelin sheath, resulting from PEM during the growth spurt may be irreversible. In man, the effects of PEM on the amount of myelin appear to be proportional to the effects on brain weight. However, the effects on dendritic and synaptic development appear to be greater than the effects on brain weight.
The effects of maternal PEM in rats on brain development in the offspring will be discussed.
In the rat, PEM after the growth spurt affects certain aspects of the metabolism of the brain. In rats given a 3 % casein diet from weaning, the level of histidine was higher, and that of tryptophan lower, than in brains of rats given isoenergetic amounts of a high-protein diet. These differences were correlated with similar differences in the serum levels of these amino acids.
PEM in children is accompanied by evidence of deficiencies in behavioural and mental development. Whether these deficiencies are the direct result of the effects of malnutrition on the brain or to the effects of other factors, such as sensory deprivation, is not known.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Alleyne, G. A. O., Hay, R. W., Picou, D. I., Stanfield, J. P. and Whitehead, R. G. (1977). Protein-energy malnutrition, Arnold, London.
Davison, A. N. and Dobbing, J. (1966). Brit. Med. Bull., 22, 40–44.
Dobbing, J. and Sands, J. (1973). Arch. Dis. Child., 48, 757–767.
Winick, M., Rosso, P. and Waterlow, J. (1970). Exptl. Neurol., 26, 393–400.
Dickerson, J. W. T. (1975). In: ‘Nutrition’, Proc. 9th Int. Congr. Nutrition, Mexico, 2. Ed. Chavez, A., Bourges, H. and Basta, S. Karger, Basel, 132–138.
Dobbing, J. (1964). Proc. Roy. Soc. B., 159, 503–509.
Chase, H. P., Canosa, C. A., Dabieve, C. S., Welch, N. N. and O’Brien, D. (1974). J. Ment. Def. Res., 18, 355–366.
Rosso, P., Hormanzabal, J. and Winick, M. (1970). Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 23, 1275–1279.
Yusuf, H. K. (1976). Studies of brain development in man and the rat. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Surrey, England.
Yusuf, H. K. and Dickerson, J. W. T. (1979). J. Neurochem., in press.
Whittaker, V. P. (1965). Progr. Biophys. Mol. Biol., 15, 39–96.
Svennerholm, L. (1963). J. Neurochem., 10, 613–623.
Vanier, M. T., Holm, M., Ohman, R. and Svennerholm, L. (1971). J. Neurochem., 18, 581–592.
Yusuf, H. K. M., Merat, A. and Dickerson, J. W. T. (1977). J. Neurochem., 28, 1299–1304.
Merat, A. (1971). Effects of protein-calorie malnutrition on brain gangliosides. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Surrey, England.
Dickerson, J. W. T., Dobbing, J. and Mccance, R. A. (1967). Proc. Roy. Soc. B., 166, 396–407.
Chase, H. P., Dorsey, J. and Mckhann, G. (1967). Pediatrics, 40, 551–559.
Ghittoni, N. E. and FARYNA Deraveglia, I. (1973). J. Neurochem., 21, 983–987.
Dickerson, J. W. T., Hughes, P. C. R. and Mcanulty, P. A. (1972). Br. J. Nutr., 27, 527–536.
Yakovlev, P. I. and Lecours, A.-R. (1967). In: Regional development of the brain in early life. Ed. Minkowski, A. Blackwell, Oxford, 3–65.
Yusuf, H. K. M. and Dickerson, J. W. T. (1978). J. Biochem., 84, 1501–1506.
Winick, M. (1970). Pediat. Clin. North. Amer., 17, 69–78.
Dickerson, J. W. T. (1968). In: Applied Neurochemistry. Eds. Davison, A. N. and Dobbing, J. Blackwell, Oxford, 48–115.
Baxter, C. F. (1968). Progr. Brain Res., 29, 429–450.
Dickerson, J. W. T. and Pao, S.-K. (1975). Biol. Neonate., 25, 114–124.
Roberts, E. (1960). In: Inhibition in CNS andy-aminobutyric acid. Ed. Roberts, E. Pergamon, Oxford, 144.
Shoemaker, W. J. and Wurtman, R. J. (1971). Science, 171, 1017–1019.
Pao, S.-K. and Dickerson, J. W. T. (1975). Nutr. Metabol., 18, 204–216.
Whitehead, R. G. (1964). Clin. Sci., 26, 271–289.
Rao, D. R., Deodhor, A. D. and Hariharan, K. (1965). Biochem. J., 97, 311–317.
Fernstrom, J. D. and Wurtman, R. J. (1971). Science, N.Y., 174, 1023–1025.
Dickerson, J. W. T. and Pao, S.-K. (1975). J. Neurochem., 25, 559–564.
Suskind, R., Amatayakul, K., Leitzmann, C. and Olson, R. (1973). In: Endocrine aspects of malnutrition. Eds. Gardner, L. I. and Amacher, P. The Kroc Foundation, Santa Ynex, Calif., 99–113.
Fernstrom, J. D. and Wurtman, R. J. (1972). Science, 178, 414–416.
Winick, M. (1976). Malnutrition and brain development. Oxford Univ. Press, London.
Cravioto, J., Delicardie, E. R. and Birch, H. G. (1966). Pediatrics, 38, 319–372.
Rosensweig, M. R., Urech, D., Bennett, E. L. and Diamond, M. C. (1962). J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol., 55, 429–437.
Bell, R. W. (1975). In: Nutrition and mental functions. Ed. Serban, G. Plenum Press, New York, 91–97.
Winick, M., Meyer, K. K. and Harris, R. C. (1975). Science, 190, 1173–1175.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1980 Applied Science Publishers Ltd
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dickerson, J.W.T. (1980). Protein Deficiency and the Brain. In: Birch, G.G., Parker, K.J. (eds) Food and Health: Science and Technology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8718-0_29
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8718-0_29
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-009-8720-3
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-8718-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive