Open AccessGlucose Requirements of the Developing Human Brain
Author(s) -
Goyal Manu S.,
Raichle Marcus E.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/mpg.0000000000001875
Subject(s) - medicine , malnutrition , context (archaeology) , human brain , brain development , intensive care medicine , neuroscience , psychiatry , biology , paleontology
Adequate nutrition is critical for human brain development, which depends particularly upon glucose. The adult human brain accounts for 20% to 25% of total body resting glucose consumption, and studies indicate that the developing brain requires an even greater percentage of glucose. Here we critically review the currently available data on glucose requirements for early childhood brain development. Implications of these findings are then discussed in the context of childhood malnutrition and future areas of investigation.