Nutritional Intake and Context as Predictors of Cognition and Adaptive Behaviour of Egyptian School-age Children

Abstract

Relations between nutrition, cognition, and adaptive behaviour measures were assessed for 110 Egyptian pre-adolescents (47% male), ranging in age from 7 to 10 years. Using a combination of oral recall and weighing of food portions, the level of dietary intake was obtained for 19 specific nutrients, including measures of energy (kilocalories), macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrates), and micronutrients (vitamins, trace minerals). Children were tested on six subscales from the Egyptian version of the WISC-R plus the Raven's coloured matrices. Based on repeated naturalistic observations we also obtained measures of the children's behaviour in the school classroom, social interactions with peers and adults, activity level, and affect. Teacher ratings of the children's classroom behaviour were also obtained. The results indicated that specific nutritional indices were significantly related to male classroom behaviour and activity level, and to female verbal ability and classroom involvement. Although a diverse group of nutrients predicted developmental outcomes, common to many of these nutrients was the fact that they were derived from intake of animal source foods. The results further indicated that relations between nutrition and children's cognition and behaviour were mediated by contextual factors, such as social class and cultural expectations about the appropriateness of given behaviours.