Brain Development and Toddlers’ Diet: Is There a Link?

Some of the most dramatic changes in brain growth and development occur in early life. For example, brain weight triples from birth to two years of age, reaching 80% of adult weight. Adequate nutrition appears to be particularly important during rapid brain development with high nutrient demands. One of the major nutritional risk factors worldwide is inadequate iron intake. Iron deficiency is considered the most common nutritional cause of anaemia in infants and young children under 2 years of age. Clinical research shows that complementary foods fortified with micronutrients, including iron, significantly reduce the risk of anaemia in young children.