Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria.
Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020 Dec;40:208-213. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.09.019. Epub 2020 Oct 5.
Nutrition plays a pivotal role in brain development throughout life. Sub-optimal intellectual ability and poor school performance are said to be among the long term effects of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to determine the association between nutritional status of the participants, their intelligence quotient (IQ) and academic performance.
Children aged 6-12 years who met the inclusion criteria were recruited from the public and private primary schools in the local government area using a proportionate multistage sampling technique. Weight and height were measured using standard protocols and interpreted as normal or abnormal using the World Health Organization AnthroPlus®. IQ was assessed using the Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices and was grouped into optimal and suboptimal. Academic performance was assessed using the past records of class assessment, and was classified into high, average and low academic performance. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data such as-age, gender, socioeconomic indices and family size of the study participants.
The prevalence of underweight, thinness (wasting), stunting, overweight and obesity were 2.0%, 3.6%, 2.1%, 6.7%, and 4.2%, respectively. Indices of over-nutrition were significantly associated with optimal IQ and good academic performance. There was a trend in the association between wasting and suboptimal intelligence [AOR (95%CI) = 1.5 (1.0-3.0), p = 0.06].
Acute and chronic under-nutrition did not adversely affect the IQ and academic performance of the study population. The relationship between over-nutrition, IQ and academic performance disappeared when socio-economic status was controlled for.
营养在整个生命周期的大脑发育中起着关键作用。据说，智力发育不健全和学业成绩不佳是营养不良的长期影响之一。本研究旨在确定参与者的营养状况、智商（IQ）和学业成绩之间的关联。
采用比例多级抽样技术，从当地政府辖区的公立和私立小学招募符合纳入标准的 6-12 岁儿童。使用标准方案测量体重和身高，并使用世界卫生组织 AnthroPlus®进行解释，判断为正常或异常。使用 Raven 的标准渐进矩阵评估 IQ，并将其分为最佳和次优。使用过去的班级评估记录评估学业成绩，并将其分为高、中、低学业成绩。使用半结构式问卷获取研究参与者的年龄、性别、社会经济指数和家庭规模等数据。
体重不足、消瘦（消瘦）、发育迟缓、超重和肥胖的患病率分别为 2.0%、3.6%、2.1%、6.7%和 4.2%。营养过剩指数与最佳 IQ 和良好学业成绩显著相关。消瘦与次优智力之间存在关联趋势 [优势比（95%CI）= 1.5（1.0-3.0），p= 0.06]。
急性和慢性营养不良不会对研究人群的 IQ 和学业成绩产生不利影响。当控制社会经济地位时，营养过剩、智商和学业成绩之间的关系就消失了。
