Investigations suggest that hyperglycemia superimposed on hypoxia-ischemia or cerebral ischemia accentuates brain damage in adult experimental animals and humans. Such does not appear to be the case in immature animals. The present review discusses fundamental differences in immature and adult brain metabolism which account for the age-specific paradox. Based on currently available data, it is recommended that glucose supplementation not be curtailed during labor and delivery of asphyxiated human infants; on the contrary, glucose therapy might substantially reduce hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.