What is myelin?
Myelin is a fat-rich substance that surrounds nerve cells. Myelin allows communication between nerve cells to be faster and more efficient. Myelin is found around the neurons in your brain (oligodendrocytes), and the nerves your body (Schwann cells). Myelin can be seen as the insulating material around an electrical wire. This “insulating” role for myelin is essential for normal motor function (movement such as walking), sensory function (hearing, seeing, feeling pain), and cognition (memory, learning). There are many disorders that can negatively impact myelin, The disorder most people have heard about is multiple sclerosis. However, myelin loss is a key component in a number of neurological injuries and diseases such as traumatic brain injuries, traumatic spinal cord injuries, strokes, certain neuropsychiatric disorders, and myelin loss is a recognized part of normal aging.
Is there a way to improve and/or create more myelin?
Diet is an important factor and continued support is emerging in research in relation to diet and brain health. Consumption of saturated fats and sugars has been shown to be detrimental to brain function, yet the brain needs fat and sugar in order to create and support myelin. Therefore, the ratio of fat/protein/carbs as well as the sourcing of food and ingredients has become increasingly important in order to maintain optimal brain health. Exercise training has been shown to have beneficial effects on nervous system function developmentally and in adulthood, and has been shown to improve the body’s absorption and utilization of the nutrients from food. This has led to a theory that high healthy fat consumption combined with exercise may be able to improve and/or create more myelin.
Conclusions
Research has found that a high fat diet without exercise has a harmful impact on the nervous system. High dietary fat diets alone promote loss of cells in the nervous system and an increase in oxidative stress and inflammation. However, adding exercise training to a high fat diet reversed the negative effect of the diet and improved myelin function in the brain. It is important to remember that the source of your diet is key and to make sure the fats you are using are not saturated fats. This is more research showing how exercise and activation of the brain is necessary for proper brain health.
Interplay between exercise and dietary fat modulates myelinogenesis in the central nervous system. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2016.
