Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Brett, Bonnie E
• Doumbia, Habib O Y
• Koko, Bruno K
• Koffi, Frédéric Kouadio
• Assa, Savorgnan E
• Zahé, Kollet Y A S
• Kort, Remco
• Sybesma, Wilbert
• Reid, Gregor
• de Weerth, Carolina

Titel

Normative cognition and the effects of a probiotic food intervention in first grade children in Côte d'Ivoire

Ist Teil von

• Scientific reports, 2022-11, Vol.12 (1), p.19491-19491, Article 19491

Ort / Verlag

England: Nature Publishing Group

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The cognitive skills critical for success have largely been studied in Western populations, despite the fact that children in low- and middle-income countries are at risk to not reach their full developmental potential. Moreover, scientists should leverage recent discovery to explore means of boosting cognition in at-risk populations. This semi-randomized controlled trial examined normative cognitive development and whether it could be enhanced by consumption of a probiotic food in a sample of 251 4- to 7-year-old children in urban schools in Côte d'Ivoire. Participants completed executive functioning measures at baseline (T1) and 5 months later (T2). After T1, children in one school received a probiotic (N = 74) or placebo (N = 79) fermented dairy food every day they were in school for one semester; children in the other school (N = 98) continued their diet as usual. Children improved on all tests across time (Cohen's d = 0.08-0.30). The effects of probiotic ingestion were inconclusive and are interpreted with caution due to socio-political factors affecting daily administration. Given the general feasibility of the study, we hope that it will serve as an inspiration for future research into child development and sustainable (health-promoting) interventions for school children in developing nations.