Subclinical zinc deficiency impairs human brain function

Harold H Sandstead

doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2012.04.018

Subclinical zinc deficiency impairs human brain function

J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2012 Jun;26(2-3):70-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2012.04.018. Epub 2012 Jun 4.

Author

Harold H Sandstead¹

Affiliation

¹ The University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, Division of Human Nutrition, Galveston, TX 77555-1109, USA. hsandste@mac.com

PMID: 22673824
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2012.04.018

Abstract

Experiments in other species showed zinc essential for brain growth and function. Six randomized controlled comparative treatment experiments in Chinese and Mexican-American low-income children, aged 6-9 years, middle-income US adolescents, middle-income US premenopausal women and middle income US men, found that subclinical zinc deficiency changes brain function. Simultaneous treatment with a broad mixture of other micronutrients and/or an adequate omnivorous diet appeared to enhance the efficacy of zinc.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Brain / metabolism*
Brain / physiology*
Cognition / physiology
Humans
Memory / physiology
Psychomotor Performance / physiology
Zinc / deficiency*
Zinc / metabolism

Substances

Zinc