Factor analysis of the impact of micronutrient status on the physical and cognitive development of younger schoolchildren

I n t r o d u c t i o n . Maintenance of an adequate micronutrient status is one of the components of the children’s health with the formation of normal indicators of the physical and intellectual development.

A i m . To evaluate the influence of the microelement and vitamin D adequacy of 7–8-year-old children living in the Khabarovsk Territory on their physical and cognitive development.

M a t e r i a l s a n d m e t h o d s . An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was performed with an analysis of the prevalence of micronutrient imbalances among apparently healthy children aged 7–8 years living in the Khabarovsk Territory (n = 60). The physical development of children was assessed by calculating the Z-scores of body weight, height and body mass index (BMI). The assessment of the children’s cognitive abilities was carried out using conventional methods. Quantifi cation of elements (Mg, Zn, Ca, Se, Cu, Fe, Mn, Cr) in the hair and blood serum of children was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The iodine adequacy in children was determined by its content in the first-morning urine using the cerium arsenite method. Determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in the blood serum of children was carried out by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

R e s u l t s . A slowing down in growth rates was revealed with a decrease in the content of Ca, Cu, Se, Zn, and an increase in the concentration of Fe; a decrease in BMI with deficiency of Ca, Cu, Zn, Cr, and an increase with an I and 25(OH)D intake inadequacy. A decrease in cognitive profile indicators was noted in children with deficiency of Mg, Ca, I, Cu, vitamin D, and an excess of Fe. The factor analysis using the multiple correlation method revealed a combined effect of Ca, Zn, and Fe equally on both indicators of growth and BMI parameters (p < 0.05). The cumulative eff ect of concentrations of Cu, Ca, I, and vitamin D in the blood serum of younger schoolchildren on the formation of short-term memory was shown (p < 0.01). A relationship was found between the level of development of verbal-logical reasoning and the concentration of Mg and Ca (p < 0.05), as well as Fe and Ca (p < 0.05), while the combination of elements with 25(OH)D in the blood serum increased the significance of correlations (p < 0.01).

C o n c l u s i o n . The study demonstrates the need for an integrated approach to evaluate the microelement and vitamin D adequacy in children, in connection with the presence of comorbidity of deficient and excess conditions, a combined effect on physical and cognitive development in order to prevent the development of nutritional diseases.

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