title: Oral zinc supplementation may improve cognitive function in schoolchildren.
abstract: Zinc is an important micronutrient for humans, and zinc deficiency among schoolchildren is deleterious to growth and development, immune competence, and cognitive function. However, the effect of zinc supplementation on cognitive function remains poorly understood. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of oral zinc supplementation (5 mg Zn/day for 3 months) on the Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ), Verbal Intelligence Quotient (VIQ), and Performance Intelligence Quotient (PIQ) using a Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III). We studied 36 schoolchildren aged 6 to 9 years (7.8 ± 1.1) using a nonprobability sampling method. The baseline serum zinc concentrations increased significantly after zinc supplementation (p < 0.0001), with no difference between sexes. Tests were administered under basal conditions before and after zinc supplementation, and there was no difference in FSIQ according to gender or age. The results demonstrated that zinc improved the VIQ only in the Information Subtest (p = 0.009), although the supplementation effects were more significant in relation to the PIQ, as these scores improved for the Picture Completion, Picture Arrangement, Block Design, and Object Assembly Subtests (p = 0.0001, for all subtests). In conclusion, zinc supplementation improved specific cognitive abilities, thereby positively influencing the academic performance of schoolchildren, even those without marginal zinc deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Edson
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: de Moura
authors.forename: Edna Nubia Oliveira
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: de Moura
authors.forename: Camila Xavier
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Sancha Helena de Lima
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.forename: Márcia Marília Gomes
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dantas
authors.forename: Alfredo de Araújo
authors.initials: Ade A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Maria das Graças
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Lúcia Dantas
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brandão-Neto
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014888:Wechsler Scales; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc