Contribution of Adequate Nutrition in Cognitive development in Children

Abstract

Adequate nutrition is essential to ensure health, well-being, productivity and active life. In addition, it is a major determinant of intellectual development, yet the burden of malnutrition in its diverse forms remains high in Asia and Africa. Though many programmes exist to address this burden, some are particularly focused on the sensitive window of opportunity to give children healthy start in life. This paper attempts to summarise the contribution of adequate nutrition to cognitive development and discuss some of the programmes that are in place to reduce this burden. The first 1000 days of life is widely considered as particularly crucial following the milestone sequential development of the various brain tissues and neurons. This period emphasises the need to promote adequate nutrition prior, during and post pregnancy. Optimal infant and young child feeding practices should be promoted. Although several nutrients are important for healthy neurodevelopment, protein, zinc, iron, folate, iodine, vitamins A, D, B., and B; and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have specific roles at different phases of neurodevelopment. Consequently, inadequate supply of these nutrients early in life may cause life-long deficits in brain function. In Nigeria several multi-sector programmes are being implemented and some of these reflexively promote neurodevelopment in the first 1000 days of life. Some of these programmes include essential nutrition actions, infant and young child feeding, maternal, newborn and child health week, salt iodisation, food fortification, bio- fortification, supplementation programmes, nutrition education among others.