Malnutrition Lower IQ Up to 15 Points

Child malnutrition during pregnancy early age mothers and children in addition to causing delays in physical growth and motor development, will also interfere with cognitive development that causes reduced IQ (intelligence quotient) to 15 points.

According to nutrition expert Prof. Dr. Jalal Fasli PhD, it means that Indonesia has the potential to lose points to reach 17-22 million IQ points due to the 1.7 million children under five suffer from malnutrition in 2005.

"Iodine is a micronutrient of the most important in preventing brain disorders that can lead to reduced intelligence, psychomotor slowing and causing mental retardation," he said.

Fasli mentions in his paper, nutritional needs are divided into two parts, namely the needs of macro-nutrients such as energy, protein and fat and micronutrient needs of the vitamins and minerals.

Macro nutrients to function on brain metabolism and increase the efficiency of the process of brain stimulation, so that the macro-nutrient deficiencies can affect food intake to the brain and disruption of metabolic processes of the brain, he said.

Lack of protein-energy intake in young pregnant women under 24 weeks will cause the number of brain cells decreases and the lack of intake of children was at the end of pregnancy cause nerve cell size becomes small children.

"Lack of protein-energy intake in pregnant weight can reduce brain weight children up to 25%," he said quoting other nutrition experts.

Energy, he said much needed brain. In addition to helping the process of brain growth and development, the energy required for metabolism of nerve cells. Similarly, the fat that is needed in the development of the brain, where more than 60% brain weight is fat.

While micro nutrients like iodine, folic acid, iron, zinc, copper, vitamins, and cholin, is necessary in brain growth.

Folic acid works to the formation of neural tube, iron for the formation of myelin, monoamine and supports energy metabolism in neurons and glia cells, zinc is required for the formation of DNA, copper for energy metabolism of nerve cells and glia cells, and cholin to form neurotransmitters, DNA methylation and the formation of myelin, he explained.

While vitamin D play a role in the ability of memory, motor control and emotional balance, vitamin A for the formation of nerve cell structure, vitamin E protection of membrane function in nerve cells, vitamin B6 and B12 for the formation of neurotransmitters, vitamin C functions as an antioxidant and vitamin B1 produces energy.