Evaluation of a Physical Activity and Multi-Micronutrient Intervention on Cognitive and Academic Performance in South African Primary Schoolchildren
Executive functions (EFs) are essential for optimal academic development. Appropriate nutrition and physical activity (PA) have been shown to facilitate optimal cognitive development. Therefore, this study examined whether a 12-week school-based PA and multi-micronutrient supplementation (MMNS) inte...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/13/2609 |
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| author | Johanna Beckmann Siphesihle Nqweniso Sebastian Ludyga Rosa du Randt Annelie Gresse Kurt Z. Long Madeleine Nienaber Harald Seelig Uwe Pühse Peter Steinmann Jürg Utzinger Cheryl Walter Markus Gerber Christin Lang |
| author_facet | Johanna Beckmann Siphesihle Nqweniso Sebastian Ludyga Rosa du Randt Annelie Gresse Kurt Z. Long Madeleine Nienaber Harald Seelig Uwe Pühse Peter Steinmann Jürg Utzinger Cheryl Walter Markus Gerber Christin Lang |
| author_sort | Johanna Beckmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Executive functions (EFs) are essential for optimal academic development. Appropriate nutrition and physical activity (PA) have been shown to facilitate optimal cognitive development. Therefore, this study examined whether a 12-week school-based PA and multi-micronutrient supplementation (MMNS) intervention would improve cognitive and academic performance. A cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. Children from four schools located in a peri-urban area of South Africa were randomly assigned to (i) PA + MMNS, (ii) PA + placebo, (iii) MMNS or (iv) placebo. Information processing and inhibitory control were measured with a computerized Flanker task. End-of-year results provided insight into academic achievement. Anthropometric measures were used to determine nutritional status. Data were analyzed with linear mixed-models, adjusting for baseline scores, school classes and age; 932 children (458 girls (49.1%), <i>M<sub>age</sub></i> (mean age) = 8.42 ± 1.94 years) completed baseline and post-intervention assessments. Cognitive performance improved among all four groups, with no significant group × time effects. For academic achievement, there was no significant interaction effect between the combined intervention group and placebo. We encourage future studies in this neglected area in order to determine the most optimal design of school-based nutrition and PA programs to enhance overall cognitive performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:59:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c0dc2efe5b84237818516d662fa7200 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:59:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c0dc2efe5b84237818516d662fa72002023-12-03T14:15:58ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-06-011413260910.3390/nu14132609Evaluation of a Physical Activity and Multi-Micronutrient Intervention on Cognitive and Academic Performance in South African Primary SchoolchildrenJohanna Beckmann0Siphesihle Nqweniso1Sebastian Ludyga2Rosa du Randt3Annelie Gresse4Kurt Z. Long5Madeleine Nienaber6Harald Seelig7Uwe Pühse8Peter Steinmann9Jürg Utzinger10Cheryl Walter11Markus Gerber12Christin Lang13Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6011, South AfricaDepartment of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6011, South AfricaDepartment of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6031, South AfricaDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, SwitzerlandDepartment of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6011, South AfricaDepartment of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, SwitzerlandDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, SwitzerlandDepartment of Human Movement Science, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6011, South AfricaDepartment of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, SwitzerlandExecutive functions (EFs) are essential for optimal academic development. Appropriate nutrition and physical activity (PA) have been shown to facilitate optimal cognitive development. Therefore, this study examined whether a 12-week school-based PA and multi-micronutrient supplementation (MMNS) intervention would improve cognitive and academic performance. A cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. Children from four schools located in a peri-urban area of South Africa were randomly assigned to (i) PA + MMNS, (ii) PA + placebo, (iii) MMNS or (iv) placebo. Information processing and inhibitory control were measured with a computerized Flanker task. End-of-year results provided insight into academic achievement. Anthropometric measures were used to determine nutritional status. Data were analyzed with linear mixed-models, adjusting for baseline scores, school classes and age; 932 children (458 girls (49.1%), <i>M<sub>age</sub></i> (mean age) = 8.42 ± 1.94 years) completed baseline and post-intervention assessments. Cognitive performance improved among all four groups, with no significant group × time effects. For academic achievement, there was no significant interaction effect between the combined intervention group and placebo. We encourage future studies in this neglected area in order to determine the most optimal design of school-based nutrition and PA programs to enhance overall cognitive performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/13/2609executive functioninhibitory controlinformation processingrandomized control trialstunting |
| spellingShingle | Johanna Beckmann Siphesihle Nqweniso Sebastian Ludyga Rosa du Randt Annelie Gresse Kurt Z. Long Madeleine Nienaber Harald Seelig Uwe Pühse Peter Steinmann Jürg Utzinger Cheryl Walter Markus Gerber Christin Lang Evaluation of a Physical Activity and Multi-Micronutrient Intervention on Cognitive and Academic Performance in South African Primary Schoolchildren Nutrients executive function inhibitory control information processing randomized control trial stunting |
| title | Evaluation of a Physical Activity and Multi-Micronutrient Intervention on Cognitive and Academic Performance in South African Primary Schoolchildren |
| title_full | Evaluation of a Physical Activity and Multi-Micronutrient Intervention on Cognitive and Academic Performance in South African Primary Schoolchildren |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of a Physical Activity and Multi-Micronutrient Intervention on Cognitive and Academic Performance in South African Primary Schoolchildren |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of a Physical Activity and Multi-Micronutrient Intervention on Cognitive and Academic Performance in South African Primary Schoolchildren |
| title_short | Evaluation of a Physical Activity and Multi-Micronutrient Intervention on Cognitive and Academic Performance in South African Primary Schoolchildren |
| title_sort | evaluation of a physical activity and multi micronutrient intervention on cognitive and academic performance in south african primary schoolchildren |
| topic | executive function inhibitory control information processing randomized control trial stunting |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/13/2609 |
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