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The gut/brain axis and happier, smarter kids
A Shigella bacterium in the human microbiome - US NIHWhile some parents might think that the human digestive system is only involved in absorbing nutrients, proponents of the gut/brain axis say that a healthy gut is important for growing children
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A Shigella bacterium in the human microbiome - US NIH
While some parents might think that the human digestive system is only involved in absorbing nutrients, proponents of the gut/brain axis say that a healthy gut is important for growing children.
The gut/brain axis refers to biochemical signaling between a person's gastrointestinal (GI) tract and their nervous system. It often involves intestinal microbiota ' the microorganisms that live in our bodies, which happen to have an important role in healthy brain function.
The axis is also a two-way communications system, comprised of neural pathways, such as the enteric nervous system (ENS); the vagus, sympathetic and spinal nerves; and humoral pathways, which include cytokines, hormones and neuropeptides as signaling molecules.
'A healthy gut delivers a positive signal that influences brain growth, while the brain also sends positive signals that influence microbiota composition in the gut, which has an impact on nutrition absorption,' Ahmad Suryawan, a member of the Happy Tummy Council, said at a recent talk in Jakarta. 'This is why we call the gut the 'second brain'.'
The Happy Tummy Council, which focuses on healthy digestive system, comprises four medical experts and a psychologist under Nestle Indonesia, which sells infant formula.
Ahmad, who has a doctorate in pediatric medicine, said that the gut/brain axis concept was developed out of confusion among experts.
Having a smart child with good attitude is the dream of every parent, Ahmad, who also completed fellowships at Groningen University in the Netherlands in 2006 and 2009, said.
Experts eventually figured out that a person's basic motor, language and social skills were important in developing intellectual and emotional intelligence. Further research showed that formation of those basic skills, which involve brain circuits, reaches a peak during a child's early life.
'The peak period takes place at the exact time of colonization of [gut] microbiota.'
Ahmad said that there is a connection between the microbiota in a child's gut and the development of behavioral intelligence. The microorganisms produce hormones that trigger unique signals to the brain that influence child growth.
The microbiota that develop in the gut of a child who is exclusively breast-fed in the first six months of life have the best ability in giving signals to the brain, said Ahmad.
So what an expecting mother should do to have a child with a healthy gut?
'An expecting mother can apply the gut/brain axis concept during her pregnancy, starting with regular pregnancy check-ups, and just be comfortable and stress-free,' said Ahmad.
Mothers should also start breast-feeding at birth exclusive for their child's first six months, he added.
Ahmad said that giving natural birth and exclusively breast-feeding would boost microbiota colonization in a baby's gut.
For mothers who can't exclusively breast-feed or who have Cesarean sections, Ahmad had advice.
'We can make the best of it. If you cannot give natural birth, then immediately breast-feed your baby once they're born and do the six-month exclusive breastfeeding.'
'But if you cannot breastfeed your newborn, then don't give him [a bottle of] air tajin [residual water resulting from boiling rice] or tea. Fortified formula is the way out,' said Ahmad, adding that interactive parenting was also needed during this process in order to provide the baby with positive stimulation.
In most places in Indonesia, it is customary for mothers to give babies tajin water as a substitute for milk.
Another Happy Tummy Council member, M. Juffrie, said that there were seven functional gastrointestinal disorders commonly afflicting children: regurgitation, chewing syndrome, cyclic vomiting syndrome, feeding and swallowing syndrome, colic, functional diarrhea, dyschezia (difficulty defecating) and functional constipation.
He said that colic was a common gastrointestinal disorder found in Indonesian children.
'Colic that is accompanied by failing growth in children needs immediate medical help. Parents must be aware of the symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders, so they can find a way to fix the problem in order to avoid disturbances to their children's intellectual and cognitive skills,' said Juffrie, a professor in pediatric medicine.
According to the government's 2010 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) report, GI disorders were still the main cause of death for infants under 59 months in age in Indonesia.
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Raising a child according to the gut-brain axis concept
During pregnancy:
- Stay healthy.
- Get regular checkups.
- Avoid chronic stress.
- Keep moving; do pregnancy exercises.
During childbirth and post-birth:
- Try your best to do a natural birth, except if your doctor suggests a Cesarean.
- Breast-feed your newborn after delivery.
- Breast-feed your baby exclusively.
- Apply attachment parenting.
- Form your child's skills naturally.
- Create an enriching environment.
- Protect your child from excessive stress (be responsive to your child's desires, avoid being too pushy, give the child
a chance to explore).
- Never give non-prescribed drugs, especially antibiotics, to your child.
- Observe and document your child's growth.
