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Oral Zinc Supplementation May Improve Cognitive Function in Schoolchildren

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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.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), grant no. 471795/2010-0.

Conflict of Interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

    José Edson de Moura & Edna Nubia Oliveira de Moura

  2. Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

    Camila Xavier Alves, Sancha Helena de Lima Vale, Márcia Marília Gomes Dantas & Alfredo de Araújo Silva

  3. Department of Clinical Analyses, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

    Maria das Graças Almeida

  4. Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

    Lúcia Dantas Leite

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Gal. Gustavo Cordeiro de Farias, s/n, Petropolis, 59012-570, Natal, RN, Brazil

    José Brandão-Neto

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  1. José Edson de Moura
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  2. Edna Nubia Oliveira de Moura
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  3. Camila Xavier Alves
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Correspondence to José Brandão-Neto.

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de Moura, J.E., de Moura, E.N.O., Alves, C.X. et al. Oral Zinc Supplementation May Improve Cognitive Function in Schoolchildren. Biol Trace Elem Res 155, 23–28 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9766-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9766-9

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