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 .
Zinc supplementation, mental development and behaviour in low birth weight term infants in northeast Brazil
Objective : To test whether zinc supplementation reduces the deficits in mental development and behaviour that are found in term infants of low birth weight in the study population . Design : A prospect i ve double-blind , part-r and omised efficacy trial . Setting : A low-income population in Pernambuco , northeast Brazil , where the economy is largely dependent on sugar-cane production , and where over 90 % of deliveries occur in health facilities . Subjects : During a 20-month period , all singleton , term infants weighing 1500–2499 g born to families of low income ( < US $ 280/month ) were enroled at birth ( n=205 ) . At 6 and 12-months , the numbers tested were 163 and 138 respectively . Intervention : Infants born from January 1993–January 1994 were r and omly assigned to receive daily , except Sundays , a placebo ( n=66 ) or 1 mg zinc ( n=68 ) . Those born February – August 1994 were given 5 mg zinc ( n=71 ) . Supplementation was for eight weeks , starting at birth . Field workers visited each infant at home to administer the supplement . Results : At 6 and 12-months , mental and psychomotor development was assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and no significant differences in the scores of the three groups were found . At 12-months , behaviour was also assessed on 5 ratings . Ratings were highest in infants given 5 mg zinc ( P=0.042 ) . Conclusions : Zinc supplementation ( 5 mg/d ) for eight weeks may reverse some of the poor behaviours , particularly responsiveness , exhibited by low birth weight infants . No amelioration of their mental and psychomotor deficits was found . Sponsorship : The Wellcome Trust , United Kingdom , provided financial support ( Grant no. 036605/Z/92 ) . Dr Lira was supported by CAPES ( Fundação Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior ) , Brazil
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 .