TY - JOUR
T1 - The interaction of malnutrition and neurologic disability in Africa
AU - Kerac, Marko
AU - Postels, Douglas G.
AU - Mallewa, Mac
AU - Alusine Jalloh, Alhaji
AU - Voskuijl, Wieger P.
AU - Groce, Nora
AU - Gladstone, Melissa
AU - Molyneux, Elizabeth
PY - 2014/3
Y1 - 2014/3
N2 - Malnutrition and neurodisability are both major public health problems in Africa. This review highlights key areas where they interact. This happens throughout life and starts with maternal malnutrition affecting fetal neurodevelopment with both immediate (eg, folate deficiency causing neural tube defects) and lifelong implications (eg, impaired cognitive function). Maternal malnutrition can also increase the risk of perinatal problems, including birth asphyxia, a major cause of neurologic damage and cerebral palsy. Macronutrient malnutrition can both cause and be caused by neurodisability. Mechanisms include decreased food intake, increased nutrient losses, and increased nutrient requirement. Specific micronutrient deficiencies can also lead to neurodisability, for example, blindness (vitamin A), intractable epilepsy (vitamin B6), and cognitive impairment (iodine and iron). Toxin ingestion (eg, from poorly processed cassava) can cause neurodisability including a peripheral polyneuropathy and a spastic paraparesis. We conclude that there is an urgent need for nutrition and disability programs to work more closely together.
AB - Malnutrition and neurodisability are both major public health problems in Africa. This review highlights key areas where they interact. This happens throughout life and starts with maternal malnutrition affecting fetal neurodevelopment with both immediate (eg, folate deficiency causing neural tube defects) and lifelong implications (eg, impaired cognitive function). Maternal malnutrition can also increase the risk of perinatal problems, including birth asphyxia, a major cause of neurologic damage and cerebral palsy. Macronutrient malnutrition can both cause and be caused by neurodisability. Mechanisms include decreased food intake, increased nutrient losses, and increased nutrient requirement. Specific micronutrient deficiencies can also lead to neurodisability, for example, blindness (vitamin A), intractable epilepsy (vitamin B6), and cognitive impairment (iodine and iron). Toxin ingestion (eg, from poorly processed cassava) can cause neurodisability including a peripheral polyneuropathy and a spastic paraparesis. We conclude that there is an urgent need for nutrition and disability programs to work more closely together.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84896348402&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spen.2014.01.003
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spen.2014.01.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 24655404
SN - 1071-9091
VL - 21
SP - 42
EP - 49
JO - Seminars in Pediatric Neurology
JF - Seminars in Pediatric Neurology
IS - 1
ER -