Vitamin E and Folic Acid as Nutritional Modulators of Neurodevelopment: A Functional Food Perspective

Neurodevelopment is a highly regulated and complex process that involves cellular proliferation, differentiation, and synaptic maturation. Nutritional factors, such as vitamin E and folic acid, play pivotal roles in this process. Vitamin E, primarily in the form of α-tocopherol, functions as a potent antioxidant, maintaining neuronal membrane integrity and supporting key neurodevelopmental processes through its interaction with α-TTP. Likewise, maternal folate intake has been extensively linked to positive neurodevelopmental outcomes, including reduced risk of neural tube defects and enhanced cognitive performance in offspring. Folic acid also modulates epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation of genes essential for neuronal development, including IGF2 and BDNF. Studies in both murine and zebrafish models confirm the crucial role of these nutrients in brain development and function.