Effect of vitamin and mineral supplementation on intelligence of a sample of schoolchildren.
90 schoolchildren aged twelve and thirteen years kept a dietary diary for three days. In most cases the average intake of vitamins was close to the recommended daily allowance, although for a minority the intake was low; with minerals the recommended daily allowance was less commonly achieved. To examine the possibility that deficiency of dietary minerals and vitamins was preventing optimum psychological function, a multivitamin/mineral supplement or a placebo was administered double-blind for eight months to 60 of the children. The supplement group, but not the placebo group or the remaining 30 who took no tablets, showed a significant increase in non-verbal intelligence.
D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects*; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010919:Placebos; D013997:Time Factors; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D008903:Minerals; D010919:Placebos; D014815:Vitamins