The Impact of Undernutrition on Intelligence Quotient and Impulsivity Index

Abstract

Background: Undernutrition is the most common cause of growth retardation in developing countries. We aimed to assess the effect of undernutrition on cognition, intelligence quotient, and impulsivity index of 7-11 year-old children in Shiraz, southern Iran. Objectives: Our objective was to determine the association between chronic moderate undernutrition and poor Intelligence Quotient and Impulsivity Index. Patients and Methods: In this case-control study, two groups of school-aged children with the mean age of 9 ± 0.98 years were enrolled. After controlling the confounding variables, 24 children with moderately chronic undernutrition (group 1) were compared to 17 normal children (group 2). We selected children based on growth parameters, evaluation of intensity, history, and by excluding underlying diseases. Intelligence quotient and draw-a-person tests were performed. We described data as mean and standard deviations, and used the t test for independent groups. Data was analyzed using SPSS software, version 11.5. Significance level was considered as 5%. Results: Only P5 (omissions) and P7 (relativities) parameters in the DAP test were significantly different. The Mean ± SD in the undernourished and normal groups were respectively 0.91 ± 0.28, 0.70 ± 0.46 for p5 (P = 0.030), and 0.64 ± 0.49, 0.35 ± 0.49 for p7 (P = 0.024), and 17.8 ± 1.89, 19 ± 1.80 (P = 0.050) for spelling .For verbal intelligence quotient, (VIQ) were 115 ± 9.7, and 113 ± 10.6 (P = 0.528). For performance intelligence quotient, (PIQ) were 117 ± 14.1, and 116 ± 11.3 (P = 0.864). For total intelligence quotient, (TIQ) were 117 ± 10.3, and 116 ± 10.2 (P = 0.715). For impulsivity index were 5.3 ± 2.8, and 4.3 ± 2.6 (P = 0.256). Conclusions: Chronic and moderate malnutrition did not influence the cognitive function, the intelligence quotient, and the impulsivity index.