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 does not improve parent or teacher ratings of behavior in first grade Mexican children exposed to lead.
OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of iron and zinc supplementation on behavior ratings of lead-exposed children . STUDY DESIGN In this double-blind , r and omized trial , 602 first- grade children received 30 mg ferrous fumarate , 30 mg zinc oxide , both , or placebo daily for 6 months . Lead , iron , and zinc status were determined at baseline and follow-up . Parents and teachers provided ratings of child behavior using the Conners Rating Scales . RESULTS The baseline mean ( SD ) blood lead concentration was 11.5 ( 6.1 ) mug/dL , with 51 % of children > or = 10 microg/dL. The prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , estimated by combined parent and teacher ratings , was 6 % . At follow-up , parent ratings of oppositional , hyperactive , cognitive problems , and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder decreased by 1.5 , 1.2 , 2.5 , and 3.4 points , respectively ( P < .05 ) . Teacher ratings of hyperactivity increased by 1.1 points ( P = .008 ) , and the mean cognitive problem score declined by 0.7 points ( P = .038 ) . There were no treatment effects on mean change in scores , but children receiving any zinc had a higher likelihood of no longer receiving clinical ly-significant teacher ratings of oppositional behaviors . CONCLUSIONS This regimen of supplementation did not result in consistent improvements in ratings of behavior in lead-exposed children over 6 months
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 .