Psychological testing in children with elevated blood lead level: the effect of spirulina
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15574/SP.2024.5(141).3033Keywords:
lead poisoning, children, cognitive disorders, psychological testing, spirulinaAbstract
The search for effective and safe remedies to reduce the negative effects of lead on a child’s cognitive sphere is an urgent problem.
Aim - to analyze changes in psychological testing indicators in children with elevated blood lead level and the effect of spirulina on them.
Materials and methods. A total of 33 children aged 7 to 15 years were examined. The children were divided into 2 groups depending on the lead level in their blood: up to and including 49 μg/l (control group) and from 50 μg/l or more (main group). Statistical processing of the results was carried out by the method of variation series using the Student's t-test, and analysis of variance was carried out using the F-criterion.
Results. In children with elevated blood lead level, there was a significant increase in cognitive impairment (memory and attention) compared to control scores. According to WHO recommendations, nutritional intervention was selected to correct the identified changes. For this purpose, children of the main group received a course of spirulina according to the following scheme: 0.5 g twice a day for 10 days, then 1 g twice a day for 20 days. As a result, the level of lead in the blood of children in this group decreased: (62.64±5.73) μg/l, compared to the initial value (75.55±1.99) μg/l. Cognitive indicators also improved: the number of correctly reproduced images significantly increased and the time to switch attention decreased, compared to the indicators before taking microalgal drugs.
Conclusions. Spirulina has a neuroprotective effect in children with chronic lead intoxication. The analysis of variance confirmed this conclusion: the score on the number of correctly reproduced images according to criterion F was 4.58. The effect on the time of switching attention according to criterion F was 8.58.
The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The research protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies.
No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.
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