Effect of micronutrient supplement on health and nutritional status of schoolchildren: mental function.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effect of a micronutrient-fortified beverage on mental function in schoolchildren.


METHODS
This double-blind, placebo-controlled, matched-pair, cluster, randomized feeding trial assessed baseline before supplementation and after 14 mo in a cohort of 608 children aged 6 to 15 y who received a micronutrient-fortified beverage or placebo. Children in two classes (clusters) in each of nine grades were assessed for intelligence, attention and concentration, memory, and school achievement.


RESULTS
Mean intelligence quotient scores of the micronutrient-fortified beverage group and the placebo group at baseline and final follow-up were not significantly different. Mean verbal and performance scores and increments were also not different. After supplementation, attention-concentration increment scores of the micronutrient group were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of the placebo group. Mean and incremental scores of the supplemented group on the memory scale were not significantly different from those of the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation with a beverage fortified with a range of micronutrients significantly improved attention-concentration over 14 mo, but not intelligence quotient, memory, or school achievement among middle-income schoolchildren.
Vazir
Shahnaz
S
Division of Field Studies, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India. s_vazir@hotmail.com
Nagalla
Balakrishna
B
Thangiah
Vijayapushpam
V
Kamasamudram
Vijayaraghavan
V
Bhattiprolu
Sivakumar
S
D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007360:Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012574:Schools; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018977:Micronutrients