Table 2

Summary of results from studies assessing the effect of malnutrition on neurodevelopment

Study (quality)
country
(outcome age)		Neurodevelopmental assessment tool
BSIDMICS ECDIDenverIDIICMR
Dwivedi et al 2018 (+)
India
(childhood)21		Effect
(unadjusted)*		    
Kang et al 2018 (+) multiple in Asia
(childhood)22		 No effect
(adjusted)		   
Abessa et al 2017 (++)
Ethiopia
(childhood)24		  Effect
(adjusted)		  
Sudfeld et al 2015 (++)
Tanzania
(childhood)25		Effect
(adjusted)		    
Malhi et al 2013 (-)
India
(childhood)27		   No effect
(adjusted)		 
El-Khayat et al 2007 (+)
Egypt
(childhood)32		Effect
(unadjusted)		    
Drewett et al 2001 (++)
Ethiopia
(childhood)35		No effect
(adjusted)		    
Vazir et al 1998 (+)
India
(childhood)36		    Effect
(unadjusted)
Kaul et al 1995 (+)
India
(childhood)38		Effect
(unadjusted)		    

  • Effect (marked in green) —statistically significant difference in neurodevelopment between cases and controls.

  • No effect (marked in red)—no difference, or statistically insignificant difference, or statistically insignificant difference after adjusting for confounding variables, in neurodevelopment between cases and controls.

  • Adjusted—results adjusted for confounding variables.

  • Unadjusted—results unadjusted for confounding variables.

  • ++=high quality.

  • +=adequate quality.

  • -=poor quality.

  • *Indian modification of BSID.

  • BSID, Bayley Scales of Infant Development; ICMR, Indian Council Medical Research Psychosocial Developmental Screening Test; IDI, Indian Developmental Inventory; MICS ECDI, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Early Child Development Index.