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The effect of subclinical infantile thiamine deficiency on motor function in preschool children
Yael Harel1, Luba Zuk1, Michal Guindy2
1Department of Physical Therapy, The Stanley Steyer School of Health Professions, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Insights
Infantile thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency from faulty formula significantly impacts preschooler motor skills, including balance and fine motor abilities. This highlights the critical need for safe infant nutrition and product regulation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Nutritional Science
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Infantile thiamine deficiency can arise from inadequate nutrition, particularly faulty milk substitutes.
- Long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of early-life thiamine deficiency are not fully understood.
- Motor development is a key indicator of healthy childhood progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of infantile thiamine deficiency on motor function in preschoolers.
- To compare motor skills in children exposed to thiamine-deficient formula with a healthy control group.
- To identify specific areas of motor function affected by early thiamine deficiency.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study comparing 39 children (5-6 years) with history of thiamine-deficient formula exposure to 30 age-matched controls.
- Motor function assessed using The Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) and Zuk Assessment.
- Statistical analysis to determine significant differences in motor skills between groups.
Main Results:
- Children exposed to thiamine-deficient formula showed significant deficits in gross and fine motor development (p < .001).
- Impaired balance control (p < .001) and fine motor skills (p < .001) were particularly pronounced.
- Motor function difficulties were reported in 56% (M-ABC) and 59% (Zuk) of the exposed group versus 10% and 3% in controls.
Conclusions:
- Infantile thiamine deficiency has lasting negative impacts on gross motor, fine motor, and balance skills in childhood.
- Thiamine plays a vital role in normal motor development.
- The study underscores the importance of appropriate infant feeding practices and stringent regulatory oversight of milk substitutes.
Abstract:
We investigated the long-term implications of infantile thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency on motor function in preschoolers who had been fed during the first 2 years of life with a faulty milk substitute. In this retrospective cohort study, 39 children aged 5-6 years who had been exposed to a thiamine-deficient formula during infancy were compared with 30 age-matched healthy children with unremarkable infant nutritional history. The motor function of the participants was evaluated with The Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) and the Zuk Assessment. Both evaluation tools revealed statistically significant differences between the exposed and unexposed groups for gross and fine motor development (p < .001, ball skills p = .01) and grapho-motor development (p = .004). The differences were especially noteworthy on M-ABC testing for balance control functioning (p < .001, OR 5.4; 95% CI 3.4-7.4) and fine motor skills (p < .001, OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.8-4.6). In the exposed group, both assessments concurred on the high rate of children exhibiting motor function difficulties in comparison to unexposed group (M-ABC: 56% vs. 10%, Zuk Assessment: 59% vs. 3%, p < .001). Thiamine deficiency in infancy has long-term implications on gross and fine motor function and balance skills in childhood, thiamine having a crucial role in normal motor development. The study emphasizes the importance of proper infant feeding and regulatory control of breast milk substitutes.
