There is no convincing evidence that zinc supplementation to infants or children results in improved motor or mental development
BACKGROUND Zinc deficiency is a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries .
Zinc is essential for the formation and migration of neurons along with the formation of neuronal synapses .
Its deficiency could interfere with the formation of neural pathways and with neurotransmission , thus affecting behavior ( for example , attention , activity , engagement , temperament ) and development ( for example , gross and fine motor skills , social skills ) .
Zinc supplementation provided to infants and children is a possible strategy to improve the mental and motor development of infants and children at high risk of zinc deficiency .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of zinc supplementation compared to placebo on measures of psychomotor development or cognitive function in children .
Iron and zinc supplementation promote motor development and exploratory behavior among Bangladeshi infants.
BACKGROUND Iron and zinc deficiency are prevalent during infancy in low-income countries . OBJECTIVES The objectives were to examine whether a weekly supplement of iron , zinc , iron+zinc , or a micronutrient mix ( MM ) of 16 vitamins and minerals would alter infant development and behavior . DESIGN The participants were 221 infants from rural Bangladesh at risk of micronutrient deficiencies .  Development and behavior were evaluated at 6 and 12 mo of age by using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II and the Home Observation Measurement of Environment ( HOME ) scale . In this double-blind trial , the infants were r and omly assigned to 1 of 5 treatment conditions : iron ( 20 mg ) , zinc ( 20 mg ) , iron+zinc , MM ( 16 vitamins and minerals , including iron and zinc ) , or riboflavin weekly from 6 to 12 mo . Multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the change in development and behavior for each supplementation group , with control for maternal education , HOME score , months breastfed , anemia , growth at 6 mo , and change in growth from 6 to 12 mo . RESULTS Iron and zinc administered together and with other micronutrients had a beneficial effect on infant motor development .  Iron and zinc administered individually and in combination had a beneficial effect on orientation-engagement . Two-thirds of the infants were mildly anemic , no treatment effects on hemoglobin concentration were observed , and hemoglobin was not associated with measures of development or behavior . CONCLUSION The beneficial effects of weekly iron and zinc supplementation on motor development and orientation-engagement suggest that infants benefit from these minerals when administered together
There is no convincing evidence that zinc supplementation to infants or children results in improved motor or mental development
BACKGROUND Zinc deficiency is a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries .
Zinc is essential for the formation and migration of neurons along with the formation of neuronal synapses .
Its deficiency could interfere with the formation of neural pathways and with neurotransmission , thus affecting behavior ( for example , attention , activity , engagement , temperament ) and development ( for example , gross and fine motor skills , social skills ) .
Zinc supplementation provided to infants and children is a possible strategy to improve the mental and motor development of infants and children at high risk of zinc deficiency .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of zinc supplementation compared to placebo on measures of psychomotor development or cognitive function in children .