RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PHYSICAL GROWTH, MENTAL-DEVELOPMENT AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION IN STUNTED CHILDREN - THE JAMAICAN STUDY

The relationship between physical growth and change in mental developm ent on the Griffiths mental development scales was investigated in 127 stunted Jamaican children over a 2-year period. The role of nutrition al supplementation in this relationship was examined. There were no co nsistent associations between changes in weight-for-height or head cir cumference and developmental change. Height gain over 2 years was sign ificantly associated with change in mental age, and locomotor and hear ing and speech subscale scores. Height gain in the first year predicte d change in mental age, and hearing and speech in the second year. Som e of the effect of supplementation on development was shared with line ar growth. Therefore, nutrition probably explains part of the relation ship between growth and development. However, supplementation also had effects on development independent of growth. The benefits of supplem entation on development and the extent to which they were shared with growth varied among the subscales.