title: Maternal gestational zinc supplementation does not influence multiple aspects of child development at 54 mo of age in Peru.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zinc is necessary for central nervous system development, and maternal zinc status has been associated with developmental differences in offspring.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to evaluate differences in cognitive, social, and behavioral function in Peruvian children at 54 mo of age whose mothers participated during pregnancy in a zinc supplementation trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  We attempted to follow up 205 children from a prenatal zinc supplementation trial and present data on 184 (90%) children-86 whose mothers took 25 mg zinc/d in addition to 60 mg iron and 250 microg folic acid and 98 whose mothers took iron and folic acid only. Following a standardized protocol, we assessed children's intelligence, language and number skills, representational ability, interpersonal understanding, and adaptive behavior and behavioral adjustment. We also assessed aspects of the mother (eg, age, education, verbal intelligence, stresses, and social support in parenting) and the home environment [HOME (Home Observation for the Measurement of the Environment) inventory].
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were observed between any of the tests used to characterize cognitive, social, or behavioral development (P > 0.05). Child sex, parity, or treatment compliance did not modify the effects of supplementation on any outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of zinc to prenatal supplements did not influence developmental outcomes in Peruvian children when assessed at 4.5 y of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. lcaulfie@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Caulfield
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Putnick
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zavaleta
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lazarte
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albornoz
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Janet A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dipietro
authors.forename: Marc H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bornstein
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007804:Language Development; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010568:Peru; D011247:Pregnancy; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D005492:Folic Acid; D015032:Zinc