Nourishing Young Brains: Why Do Iron, Iodine, and Vitamin B1 Matter?

What role does early nutrition play in your child’s brain development?

Brain development in children under 6 years old is critical, and nutrition is one of the factors that plays a significant role in shaping how the brain grows and functions. A child’s brain is highly plastic, meaning it can form new connections rapidly, especially during the first 6 years of life.

Optimal nutrition supports the development and function of your child’s brain. The brain grows quickly throughout pregnancy and the initial 2 years of life. Post those early years, especially up until 6 years of your child’s age, the brain undergoes a phase of development where creating neuron connections peaks, which support intellect, memory, and learning ability.¹

Nutrition is one of the various stimulations that influence the optimal development and functioning of such connections and skills. Certain nutrients like iron, iodine, and vitamin B1 support brain development and the learning, concentration, and problem-solving abilities of a child.

What does Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) do for your child’s brain?

• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): The Energy Provider

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) helps your baby's brain development, increasing energy metabolism and supporting neurotransmitters (essential for developing learning, focus, and memory skills) involved in brain function.^2, 3

What happens due to the deficiency of vitamin B1? The deficiency of vitamin B1 may influence language and motor skill development⁴ and also on neurological functions.⁵

Why is iodine important for baby's brain growth? 

Iodine is essential to making thyroid hormones, which help in brain growth & development.⁶ It also supports general mental sharpness, nerve protection, and brain cell development.

Iodine deficiency may affect the brain development and function leading to mental retardation, in cases of extreme Iodine deficiency. Iodine deficiency can also lead to growth delays.⁷

How does iron support the brain?

Iron: Oxygen for the Brain 

Iron transports oxygen to the brain, promotes healthy red blood cells, and aids in brain activities such as neurotransmitter generation and myelin development.⁸

What if your baby is Iron deficient? Iron deficiency may lead to anemia, affecting your baby's social and daily life. Its deficiency can impact cognitive ability, memory, and learning skills.

How can parents include iron, iodine, and vitamin B1 in the regular diet?

As a parent, to support the growth potential of the brain, it is essential to provide the necessary nutrition to the baby during this growth phase.

Include a varied diet to support enough iron, iodine, and vitamin B1 intake by children. Some of the food sources of these nutrients are:

• Iron: Fish, poultry, lentils (dal), flattened rice (chirua/poha).
• Iodine: Iodized salt in meals, dairy products (milk, cheese, dahi), and eggs.
• Vitamin B1: Meat, fish, seeds, nuts, green peas, sunflower seeds, kidney beans (rajma), and soy products

Additionally, fortified milk and foods as an addition to daily diet can support optimal nutrition and intake of these nutrients to support optimum brain development and healthy growth.

How does fortified milk help meet your child’s nutritional needs?

Young children require a wide variety of foods to meet their high nutritional demands at this critical time for physical, cognitive, and motor development. Fortified milk and foods, when added to the daily regular diets, support the high nutrition requirements of this phase and reduce the risk of any nutritional deficiency and its long-term consequences.