Webinar preview: Balchem Human Nutrition on the ingredients that boost kids’ burgeoning brains

22 Sep 2023 --- As kids return to school, Balchem Human Nutrition is shining a spotlight on cognitive support solutions for kids’ neurodevelopment. The company will focus on its iron and ingredient Ferrochel and its choline offering VitaCholine, as well as what the science says about the health benefits of these essential nutrients.

Ahead of the company’s upcoming webinar titled, “Nurturing Young Brains through Better Nutrition,” on September 26 (16:00 CEST), Nutrition Insight speaks with two of the webinars presenters about how these ingredients can aid children’s developing minds and set them up for success.

“The need for proper nutrition to support the development of the brain and spinal cord starts early – it starts during pregnancy,” says Dr. Eric Ciappio, the nutrition science manager at Balchem. “It’s up to the nutrition community to help mom achieve a healthy diet, both before and after baby’s arrival, to help support brain health in their children.” 

“We see increasing demand for child nutrition in general and for cognitive development in particular,” reveals Oliver Riemann, the company’s marketing and business development manager. “When we have a look at the market development of brain health for children, the baby and toddler category leads the field with more than 50% share, followed by the category fortified dairy.”

Choline and cognition
Choline, a crucial nutrient, plays a significant role in the development of the brain and spinal cord. It serves as a fundamental component for constructing cell membranes, including those in the brain, as it acts as the precursor to phosphatidylcholine.

The company states that Ferrochel and VitaCholine are a perfect pairing for boosting children’s cognition.“It also functions as a major component of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which plays important roles in processes such as memory, mood and muscle control,” says Ciappio.

“The latest data shows that the benefits of choline for cognitive development for children starts early – moms who consume supplemental choline during pregnancy have been shown to provide improvements in cognitive function that are observed as early as infancy and that last even past baby’s 7th birthday.”

Innovative iron
Ciappio and Riemann explain that iron, like choline, is an essential nutrient that can contribute to a child’s cognitive development and to cognitive function throughout life.

“Iron helps to transport oxygen around the body. In children, iron deficiency anemia can impact a variety of cognitive functions, including attention, memory, perceptual-motor speed and verbal fluency,” Ciappio states. “Therefore, it’s critical to ensure that children get enough iron in their diets.”

Anemia, a condition caused by iron deficiency, poses a substantial worldwide public health issue. In certain nations, the occurrence of iron deficiency in children under five years of age surpasses 50%. 

In the US, the Centers for Disease Control approximates that more than 1.35 million children in this age group lack sufficient iron, while nearly one in five children (19.3%) in Europe are estimated to have anemia. Symptoms can include tiredness and fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath. Ciappio and Riemann emphasize that combating iron deficiency starts earlier.

“It’s important to remember that children’s iron nutrition starts in the womb, and more than 80% of pregnant women in the United States do not get enough iron from diet alone,” Ciappio underscores. “Experts recommend that pregnant women take a prenatal supplement with iron to support the health of mom and baby.”

However, they also note that some of the commonly used iron salts, such as ferrous sulfate, can have significant gastrointestinal (GI) side effects.Iron helps to transport oxygen around the body and choline aids in the development of the brain and spinal cord.

“Ferrochel is the leading brand of Ferrous bisglycinate, a chelated form of iron with demonstrated bioavailability in both expecting moms and children, as well as greater tolerability,” Riemann explains. 

“A recent meta-analysis confirmed that Ferrous bisglycinate supplementation during pregnancy significantly increased iron status in the hemoglobin and had a 64% lower risk of GI adverse events compared to other iron salts,” says Ciappio.

The perfect pair
Balchem Human Nutrition and Health reveals that both choline and iron have been thoroughly researched and that there are already established recommended daily allowances (RDAs) for this cognitive pairing that have been set by multiple international health authorities. 

For choline, the RDAs vary from 250 to 550 mg/day in the US for children aged 4 to 18, depending on age and gender. In the EU, that range changes slightly to between 250 to 400 mg/day. 

For iron, RDAs vary from 10 to 15 mg/day in the US for children aged 4 to 18 – also depending on age and gender – and between 7 to 11 mg/day in the EU. Furthermore, the tolerable upper intake limits (UL) for both ingredients have also been set.

“Choline and iron are essential nutrients that help support cognitive development and function, and both moms and kids don’t get enough in their diets,” stresses Riemann. “Look for brands like VitaCholine and Ferrochel (Ferrous Bisglycinate) to help provide optimal nutrition for the whole family.”

“On the supplement side, gummies, for example, are currently the fastest growing category,” he adds. “This gives us confidence to promote our ingredients Ferrochel (which is a ferrous bisglycinate chelate) and also VitaCholine exactly in these growing fields.”

By William Bradford Nichols