Nutritional reflection on growth and development among intellectually disabled children

Abstract

Background

Many studies revealed that there is a strong relationship between neurodevelopmental delay and malnutrition. This clinic-based study aimed to detect nutritional problems and its reflection on growth and mental development through determination of the nutritional profile among disabled children.

Results

This study showed significant difference in the residential places between the two groups of lower and higher IQ. The birth order is significantly related to level of IQ in children. By applying food analysis, there is significant difference in the elements they get between the two groups of children (of lower and higher IQ). Multiple analysis showed significant relationship between orientation and zinc intake with IQ of children.

Conclusion

Intellectual disability is more prevalent in rural and popular residential. As the birth order increases, the percentage of lower IQ increases. Dietary profile for intellectually disabled children (of lower IQ) is regarded to be richer with dietary elements and vitamins than that for higher IQ children. According to the multiple analysis, orientation and zinc intake are the most effective variables on the IQ scores.

Background

Low socioeconomic level was highly related to some sorts of disabilities such as mental retardation, delayed language, and behavior disorder; on the other side, some studies revealed that there is significant association between cerebral palsy and severe preterm maternal hypertension, antepartum hemorrhage, and preterm uterine activity (Taylor et al 1985).

Many studies have revealed that there is negative relationship between birth order and intelligence level. The explanation for this association is not well known; there are many suggested explanations: Such as that the relation is due to more-preferable family interaction and stimulation of low-birth-order children, whereas others claim that the effect is caused by prenatal gestational factors. Child education is significantly affected by their family size (Tambi and Ewane 2019).

Many studies were applied in order to assess the association between gross motor development and IQ level for children. The relationship between gross motor development and cognition is not strong enough to allow the use of one to predict the other (Houwen et al. 2016).

Anemia is one of the probable health problems that appear in intellectually disabled children due to malnutrition; according to the previous study, it reaches 11.6% (Lin et al. 2010). The health impacts of anemia are usually noticed during infancy and early childhood as they are periods of significant growth and development of the central nervous system (Lozoff et al. 2006).

The human brain passes through consecutive changes in structure and functional connectivity throughout childhood and adolescence (Luna 2009). Diets consumed by children play an important role in the neurodevelopmental process (Krebs-Smith et al. 2010).

Although there were a lot of studies and intervention applied, anemia regarded to be one of the main nutritional deficiency disorders in the world today, as it is most prevalent in pregnant women and young children. Previous studies have shown that anemia is prevalent among children at age of 5 or less in Southern Asia and Africa, which are regarded to be developing countries. In developing countries, about 30–80% of preschool children were anemic (Mason et al. 2005) according to a study applied on Chinese preschool children in order to detect the relationship between anemia and the development of these children. It revealed that children who were exposed to developmental delays at infancy exhibited behavioral anomalies (Chang et al. 2011).

Anemia is defined as the condition of less than the normal quantity of blood hemoglobin (Hb) which has physiological and psychological impacts on health. Anemia has serious consequences as it causes decreases in oxygen level in the body, including tissues and major organs, such as the brain. As a result, there are many symptoms associated with anemia, including physiological symptoms, such as cerebrovascular infarction (stroke), and psychosocial symptoms, such as decreased cognitive abilities and adverse behavioral outcomes, because of impairments in normal brain functions (Ai et al. 2012).

Fat is one of the main constituents in infants and young children diet, as they need an extraordinary energy to compensate their limited dietary capacity, moreover, essential fatty acids such as arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and their metabolites, which plays an important role in children growth and development and its deficiency may affect maturation of the central nervous system, visual development, and intelligence (Hardya and Kleinman 2007).

Aim of the study

This study include nutritional assessment for disabled children which is important and benefitial for them.

Methods

Subjects

The study group of special need children age (3–6) years was recruited from the general pediatric clinic referred to center of children with special needs, Faculty of Post Graduate Childhood Studies, at Shams University.

A cross-sectional study was carried out for 100 children (65 male and 35 female) aged 3 years. Data on age, sex, weight, height, and severity of intellectual disability or global developmental delay were collected from medical records. Body mass index (BMI, weight/height²) was calculated and overweight and obesity defined using standard international criteria.

Inclusion criteria

All children with special needs aged from 3 to 6 years.

Exclusion criteria

• Children with chronic diseases (such as bronchial asthma that induces growth, chronic renal failure, hepatic disease, epilepsy that causes brain deterioration.

• Children treated with stimulant medication (Ritalin).

• Children treated with non-stimulant medication (Atomoxetine).

• Children with physical disabilities.

• Children with pica

Method

Study design

It is cross-sectional, observational clinic-based study.

Phases of the study

Study was conducted on children with special needs aged from 3 to 6 years attending to pediatric clinic at center of children with special needs—Faculty of Post Graduate Childhood Studies—Ain Shams University to receive medical treatment and follow-up services the study conducted from January 2018 to March 2020. One hundred children were collected (65 male and 35 female); their parents accompanying the child were informed about the aim of the study and the procedures.

Those children fulfilled the above mentioned criteria were subjected to:

• History taking includes: age, sex, onset, and duration of disorder and family history.

• Assessment of nutritional status using developmental nutritional questionnaire includes: Demographic and socioeconomic data including age, gender. WHO anthropometric measurement protocol was used; BMI was calculated as the weight in kg divided by the height square in meters (WHO 2005–2007).

Sheet of 24-h dietary recalls will be collected using the Multiple Pass Food Recall (MPR) method which is a 5-step approach, developed by the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) (Moshfegh et al. 2008). 24-h recalls sheet was collected for each participant.

ESHA Research Food Processor SQL and ESHA Port SQL software version 10.3 were used to enter age, gender, and anthropometric information as well as every food item (portion, time, and meal). Food recipes and preparation information were collected for homemade food, and amount consumed by each subject was estimated. Nutrient analysis was obtained.

• Assessment of anthropometric measures (weight and height),

• Clinical examination

Full clinical examination was done including general examination and local examination in order to diagnose any chronic diseases (chest–abdomen–CNS–CVS) and exclude any other diseases then develop mental examination. The diagnosis was confirmed by the laboratory and radiological findings of the patients.

• Complete blood count with differential leucocytic count

• EEG was done by some patients to exclude epilepsy.

• IQ test: using Stanford-bennet 5th edition was carried out.

Statistical method

• Collected data entered and analyzed data were expressed as means ± standard deviation or frequencies (%), using PC computer and presented using appropriate statistical tests by SPSS statistical data program.

• Proper significant test was used according to type of data (Mostafa and El-Shourbagy 2010). After 12 months, 102 patients were recruited; the data could not be completed for 2 patients so the actual number of patients included in the study was 100 patients

Statistical analysis was done by statistical package for social sciences (spss) version 21. Qualitative variables are presented as number and percent and quantitative variables as mean and standard deviation. The proportions were compared using × 2 test. In quantitative variables, comparison between two groups was done by t test. P value less than 0.05 is significant level and less than 0.001 is highly significant level.

Limitation

• Loss of some cases as they were not cooperative complete their assessments

• We could not validate the data taken from the mothers

• We relied on the data reported by subjects

Results

Table 1 shows the distribution of children according to their residential places as follows: rural area of 14%, popular area of 74.4%, and non-popular area of 11.6%, on the other hand the distribution for the second group as follows: rural area of 10.5%, popular area of 56.1% and non-popular area33.3% p = 0.042 that less than 0.05 indicates significant difference between the two groups in the place of residence.

Table 1 The relation between IQ and the resident places

Table 2 shows that in the first group 55.8% of them their birth order were the first or second, versus 70.17% of the second group, the difference between the two groups is near to be significant as p = 0.070.

Table 2 The relation between IQ and birth order

The prevalence of gross motor delayed cases among the intellectually disabled children (group of lower IQ) is 29.9% on the other hand this percentage decreases to 5.3% in case of higher IQ children (there IQ > 75) There is significant variation between the two groups in the gross motor development as p = 0.002 (Table 3).

Table 3 The relation between IQ and gross motor development

Table 4 shows that in the first group 14% considered to be hyperactive versus 29.8% of the second group. The difference between the two groups is close to be significant as p = 0.062.

Table 4 The relation between hyperactivity and IQ

Table 5 shows that the total leukocytic count for the group of intellectually disabled children mean value is 7.6 decreases to 6.2 for the group of higher IQ level, the calculated p = 0.012 which less than 0.05 and approximately equal 0.01 so there is highly significant difference between the two groups.

Table 5 Distribution of laboratory data according to IQ test

Table 6 shows higher Calories intake for the intellectually disabled (lower IQ children) with calculated p = 0.008 which less than 0.01 so there is high significant difference between the two groups. Also, carbohydrate intake regarded to be higher for the lower IQ group with calculated p = 0.028 which less than 0.05, so there is significant difference between the two groups. The intellectually disabled children (group of lower IQ) has higher protein intake, the calculated p = 0.029 which less than 0.05 so there is significant difference between the two groups. Also, Fat intake for the lower IQ group is higher than the group of higher IQ with calculated p = 0.012 which is regarded to be significant difference between the two groups. Higher fiber intake is recorded for the lower IQ group of children the p = 0.022 which is less than 0.05 so there is significant difference between the two groups.

Table 6 (Mean ± SD) of food analysis data according to IQ test

Sodium intake and potassium intake are also recorded higher for the lower IQ group with calculated p = 0.041 and p = 0.002 which shows significant and highly significant difference between the two groups. Calcium and Iron intake are also higher for the low IQ group of children but the difference between the two groups is close to be significant. Zinc intake is higher for the group of intellectually disabled children p = 0.039 which less than 0.05 so there is significant difference between the two groups.

The following independent variables (age, diagnosis, gross motor, height, birth order, orientation, hyperactivity, TLC, education, BMI, water, CHO, protein, fat, Na, K, Ca, Mg, and Zn) affect 75% on the IQ score p = 0.001, multiple r = 0.745.

Orientation is significantly related to the IQ of children by 48.7% and zinc intake affect IQ by 33.3%, in the presence of the other factors (Table 7).

Table 7 Multiple analysis of the independent variables (age, diagnosis, gross motor, height, birth order, orientation, hyperactivity, TLC, education, BMI, water, CHO, protein, fat, Na, K, Ca, Mg, and Zn) on IQ score

Discussion

In the present study, the distribution of children in the first group according to their residential places is as follows: rural area of 14%, popular area of 74.4%, and non-popular area of 11.6%. Rural areas and popular areas had higher ID prevalence rate than urban areas, which matches with study by Lai et al. (2011), which revealed that rural areas had higher incidence than urban areas. On the other hand, it goes against the study applied on Indian children by Lakhan et al. (2015) showing that the intellectual disability prevalence rate in children is slightly higher in urban than rural areas. So it needs further study.

In the present study, the distribution of the group of lower IQ is higher percentage of birth order more than 2; according to the results of the previous study, IQ scores were negatively associated with both birth order and social order (Kristensen and Bjerkedal 2007).

In the present study, there is significant relationship between IQ and gross motor development, which goes with a study by Rintala and Loovis (2013) that showed that intellectually disabled children have low gross motor skills on the other hand it is against the previous study revealed that there is no significant association between cognition aspects and gross motor development (Capute et al. 1985). In the present study, there is significant association between IQ and hyperactivity as it regarded to be more prevalent among the higher IQ children, on the other side a previous study revealed that there is a weak association between IQ and hyperactivity (Jespsen et al 2008) which needs further study.

In the present study, there is significant difference between the two groups (lower and higher IQ); the total leukocytic count was higher value for low IQ children group, which goes with a study by Strouse et al. (2006) which revealed that elevated white blood cells are associated with lower IQ.

In the present study, there is no significant difference in the Hb level between the two groups of lower and higher IQ, on the other hand a previous study showed that low hemoglobin level has negative effect on the children cognition (Ai et al. 2012) that needs further study.

In the present study showed no significant difference in platelets count and volume between two groups of children (of higher and lower IQ); in a previous study revealed that there is no significant difference in platelets count and volume between normal and autistic and schizophrenic children (Geller et al. 1988).

In the present study, the water intake is inversely proportional to IQ level; a study revealed that the concentration of fluoride in drinking water has direct effect on the IQ of children (Razdan et al. 2017).

In the present study, the caloric intake is inversely proportional to IQ level; in the previous study, malnutrition has direct effect on child development (Ampaabeng and Tan 2013).

In the present study, the carbohydrate intake is inversely proportional to IQ level and this correlation close to be significant. Previous study applied on Tehrani children aged 6–7 years gave evidence, indicating an inverse relationship between refined carbohydrate consumption and non-verbal intelligence (Abargouei et al. 2012).

In the present study, there is a significant correlation between protein intake and IQ level of children, as the protein intake is inversely proportional to IQ. In the previous study revealed that increased protein intake in the first weeks of life increases the mental development of newborn (Stephens et al. 2009).

In the present study, the fat intake is inversely proportional to IQ level with significant difference between the two groups of lower and higher IQ, which goes with a study by Theodore et al. (2009) that applied on European children of age 5–7 years old revealed that eating margarine at least daily was associated with significantly lower IQ scores.

In the present study, there is significant correlation between fiber intake and IQ level, on the other hand the fiber intake is inversely proportional to IQ level of children which goes against recent nutritional researches have found that dietary fiber was directly related with cognitive development among prepubertal children. Fiber intake may have a significant effect on cognitive and brain health through immunomodulation and/or the gut–microbiota–brain system (Khan et al. 2015) which needs further study.

In the present study, there was significant correlation between sodium intakes with IQ, the sodium intake is inversely proportional to IQ level of children. In the previous study showed no relation between sodium intake and IQ level of children (Ghazi et al. 2013).

In the present study, there is significant correlation between IQ and potassium intake, in which it is inversely proportional to IQ level of children, this results against a study by Ghazi et al. (2013) revealed that no relationship between IQ and potassium intake, which needs further study.

In the present study, calcium and iron showed no significant correlation with IQ of children which goes with the previous study by Ghazi et al. (2013) in the present study zinc and vitaminB2 intake showed significant correlation with IQ of children which goes against a study by Ghazi et al. (2013) that showed no correlation between zinc and vitamin B2intake and children IQ level, that needs further study.

Conclusion

Intellectual disability is more prevalent in rural and popular residential. As the birth order increases, the percentage of lower IQ increases. The gross motor development is directly proportional to IQ. The total leukocytic count was higher value for low IQ children group. Dietary profile for intellectually disabled children (of lower IQ) is regarded to be richer with dietary elements and vitamins than that for higher IQ children. According to the multiple analysis, orientation is the most related variable and zinc intake is the most effective variable on the IQ scores.

Recommendations

Screening for IQ among children in rural and popular area, assessment for intellectually disabled and developmentally delayed children, regular follow-up for these children is a must. In case of higher birth order child (more than the second), IQ assessment must be carried out. Increasing the nutritional awareness between parents increases zinc intake for children from natural sources such as meat which is an excellent source of zinc, shellfish which regarded to be healthy, low-calorie sources of zinc, legumes like chickpeas, lentils, and beans that all contain substantial amounts of zinc, also seeds, nuts, dairy, eggs, and whole grains.