Impact of Nutrition on Mentally Retarded Children

The present was aimed at studying the impact of nutrition in cognitive development of mentally retarded children. Total number of 30 mentally retarded children attending a rehabilitation center in a rural area of ramnad district in tamil nadu were studied. Children with mild and moderate degree of retardation with age group ranging from 6-12 years were included and children with severe and profound degree of mental retardation were excluded. Nutritious powder was given in the form of a nutritious ball mixed with milk in the morning and a multivitamin-multimineral capsule in the evening. Based on a heuristic model for the diagnosis of mental retardation, the tests such as binet kamat test for intelligence to assess cognitive function, vinelands social maturity scale for adaptive behaviors and Purdue pegboard method for motor abilities were performed. There is a highly significant improvement in a visuo-motor co-ordination (90%). Paired t test showed statistical significance of 99.9% confidence level. A significant improvement (40%) in the social adaptation parameters such as maturation in self help, self direction, locomotion, occupation, communication and social relation after nutritional supplementation (CI: 99.9%) there is no significant change in IQ level. This may be because the study was concluded for a short period, though there was no significant change. 5 children showed an average increase of 7 points in their IQ level. Then they were retested at the end of six months of nutritional supplements.