Neuroglycopenia is categorized as low blood glucose levels in the brain. Recently I was asked if children can have headaches due to inadequate nutrition and a neuroglycopenia. Children have a different susceptibility to low blood sugar than adults. Most people do not get low blood sugars if they have sufficient calorie intake. Many substances can be converted to glucose for the brain to maintain normal function, and that is a protective mechanism of the neurologic system. Low blood sugar levels in the brain can be manifested in a number of ways, including behavioral changes, headaches, and even seizures or loss of consciousness.

In a Google search on this topic, only one article was found; The Journal of Pediatrics in 1994 wrote that children can have behavioral changes related to low blood sugars and the possible affect on the brain. Low and high blood sugars due to nutrition in children probably occur regularly, and they can affect behavior and may be linked to headaches. Neuroglycopenia occurs when there is a severely low blood sugar level in the brain, and is generally linked to low blood glucose. Furthermore, this condition is linked mostly to diabetes and high insulin levels, and not to general nutrition.

Children can have headaches due to a number of reasons. Nutrition and sugar intake can definitely cause difficulties with headaches in some children. Headaches can be caused from problems such as poor vision, lack of sleep, psychological problems and stress. If headaches are frequent, then the child needs to be seen by a pediatrician, and possibly by a neurologist. Sudden severe new headaches need to be seen immediately at a hospital as an emergency.

Poor nutrition in children can lead to behavior problems, hyperactivity and headaches. The meal programs for breakfast and lunches in our schools partially grew out of awareness of the necessity of good nutrition in the ability of children to adequately learn. Severe low blood glucose in the brain, i.e. neuroglycopenia, is not necessary to be the cause of headaches. If the child is a diabetic, neuroglycopenia may be occurring and can cause headaches. Children without diabetes are unlikely to have nutritional issues so severe to cause low brain glucose and headaches. If a child is having headaches, the first stop is the child’s pediatrician.