The effects of protein energy malnutrition in early childhood on intellectual and motor abilities in later childhood and adolescence

Abridged sum.: Three groups of Ugandan children who had been admitted to hospital for treatment of protein energy malnutrition between the ages of eight to 27 months, and one comparison group of children who had not been clinically malnourished throughout the whole period up to 27 months of age were examined between 11 and 17 years of age. It was found that the three malnourished groups fell significantly below the comparison group in anthropometric measurements and in tests of intellectual and moteor abilities. No evidence was found for a relationship between the deficit and exact age in months at admission. Further analysis revealed that anthropometry and intellectual and motor abilities are the more affected the greater the degree of 'chronic undernutrition' at admission; no correlation was found with the severity of the 'acute malnutrition'. The findings are discussed in the context of the existing literature