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 .
Effect of zinc supplementation on development and growth of Chilean infants.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on growth and development during infancy .  DESIGN We r and omized 150 term neonates of low socioeconomic status to receive supplemental zinc 5 mg/d  ( SG ) or a lactose placebo  ( PG ) ; 112 completed a 1-year follow-up . All were breast-fed and given cow milk formula after weaning ; solid foods and iron were added at 5 months . Anthropometry measured monthly , psychomotor development ( PDI ) , mental development ( MDI ) , and behavior including motor quality factor were assessed by Bayley Scales at 6 and 12 months . The groups were comparable in maternal characteristics , birth weight , home environment , and mother-infant interaction . RESULTS No effects of zinc on weight , length , and weight for length at 12 months were found controlling for sex and breast-feeding . The mean PDI ( SG : 84.5 + /- 11.5 vs PG : 87.6 + /- 9.9 ) and MDI ( 90.9 + /- 10.5 vs 88.9 + /- 9.1 ) were similar ; however , 46 of 52 infants in the PG scored < 100 in MDI vs 42 of 57 in the SG ( P < .05 ) . A smaller proportion of the SG , 2 of 57 , scored low in motor quality factor at 6 months compared with the PG , 8 of 52 ( P = .02 ) . The mean at 12 months for the SG was 31.9 + /- 2.8 and for the PG 30.8 + /- 2.9 ( P < .05 ) ; zinc supplementation entered the multiple regression at 12 months ( P = .037 ) . CONCLUSIONS Zinc supplementation may have a beneficial effect on mental development and motor quality behavior of healthy term infants
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 .