Efficacy of Kushmanda Benincasa hispida (thunb.) Cogn. and Yastimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.) on Medha (intellectual capacity) in Malnourished School-Going Children: A Study Protocol of an Open-Label Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract BACKGROUND: Malnutrition adversely affects the intelligence quotient (IQ), with a more pronounced impact on short-term memory, visual perception, and visual-motor integration compared to verbal reasoning and understanding. The negative effects of malnutrition can be avoided by correcting mild to moderate undernutrition. Consequently, Kushmanda Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. and Yastimadhu ( Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.) are chosen for the current study because they share similar properties as Medhya (nootropic), Balya (nutritive), Vrishya (aphrodisiac), Hridhya (cardiotonic), and Rasayana (rejuvenation). OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Kushmanda and Yastimadhu granules on IQ in malnourished children of school-going age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is designed as a single-center, randomized, active-controlled, open-label clinical trial in which 240 IAP Grade 1 and Grade 2 undernutrition students between 11 and 12 years will be chosen from nearby primary schools for participation. Weschler’s Intelligence Scale (also known as Malin’s Intelligence Scale for Indian Children) will be used to measure IQ, and those with scores between 70 and 89 will be randomly divided into two groups of 120 participants each, with one group receiving Kushmanda granules and the other receiving Yastimadhu granules at a predetermined dosage may be added for a month. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It is anticipated that this will lead to an increase in IQ and weight gain in malnourished youngsters. A variety of factors influence IQ, and one of those is nutrition. This study will investigate the effect of nootropic and nutritional actions of Kushmanda and Yastimadhu granules on undernourished school-age children with borderline intelligence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial has been registered at the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI); the registration number for this trial is CTRI/2023/02/049381, on the date 01/02/2023.