Inositol: A Nonglucose Carbohydrate Found in Human Breast Milk

Laura D. Brown, MD, associate professor of pediatrics-neonatology and perinatal research at the University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, reviews inositol, a naturally occurring nonglucose carbohydrate present in human breast milk. Dr. Brown discusses the benefits inositol may provide to developing infants while describing new and ongoing research in this area.

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  Laura D. Brown, MD

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  Laura Davidson Brown, MD, is an associate professor of pediatrics in the Section of Neonatology in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado. Dr. Brown received her medical degree from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency in pediatrics at the University of Colorado (Children’s Hospital Colorado) and was awarded a fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine by the University of Colorado (University Hospital).

  At the University of Colorado’s Perinatal Research Center, Dr. Brown and her colleagues conduct research studies in maternal, placental, and fetal physiology. The Center is supported by nationally competitive grants, primarily from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Brown has a special interest in optimizing the nutritional management of extremely low birth weight infants and infants affected by placental insufficiency and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The focus of her research is to improve the muscle growth during pregnancy of fetuses affected by IUGR, specifically why muscles fail to develop properly even into adulthood. IUGR occurs in about 6% to 8% of pregnancies, with the growth failure often requiring delivery of the baby—frequently preterm or with very low birth weight. There is currently no proven intervention during pregnancy to improve the growth of the fetus. By exploring the cellular mechanisms that control fetal muscle growth and development in IUGR, Dr. Brown’s goal is to provide a better understanding of why there are persistent abnormalities in muscle growth during childhood and adulthood that can lead to conditions such as diabetes and heart disease later in life. These findings will guide the development of nutritional strategies during pregnancy and early childhood that are designed to improve muscle growth and prevent the development of lifelong diseases.

  Dr. Brown is the recipient of numerous awards and other recognition for academic excellence and her clinical teaching ability. She is the author or co-author of more than 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts, articles, book chapters, abstracts, reviews and case reports. She is also a frequently invited speaker at national and international conferences.

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  Laura D. Brown, MD

  Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Neonatology and Perinatal Research
  University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital
  Aurora, Colorado