Author
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Penland, James |
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Submitted to: Trace Elements in Man and Animals International Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/1996 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Findings from a series of controlled studies show that dietary intakes of the trace minerals zinc (Zn) and boron (B) may affect performance on cognitive tasks and psychomotor function. Among Zn deprived Chinese children (aged 6-9 y), treatment with 20 mg Zn/d or Zn plus micronutrients [Zn+M; 50% Recommended Dietary Allowances or mean Estimated Safe and Adequate Dietary Intakes, excluding Zn, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P); folate at 25% RDA] improved manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination more than treatment with micronutrients alone. Further, Zn+M improved performance on visual perception, non-verbal memory, and concept formation tasks more than treatment with either Zn or M alone. These findings complement similar results from two independent studies of young adult men and women in the United States, which showed positive effects of increased Zn intakes on memory, attention and psychomotor function. These findings have important implications for the world's population with suboptimal Zn intakes and status. In three studies conducted on older adults in the US, dietary B intakes > 3 mg/d improved manual dexterity, and performance on attention and short-term memory tasks, when compared to intakes < 0.25 mg B/d. Other effects of B on cognitive performance were observed in one but not all studies. Although B is not currently recognized as an essential nutrient, these findings suggest an important role for B in cognition and psychomotor function. Further experimental study of the consequences of Zn and B nutriture for cognitive performance and psychomotor function is necessary to determine the precise roles of these trace elements for optimal health and function in humans. Technical Abstract: Findings from a series of controlled studies show that dietary intakes of the trace minerals zinc (Zn) and boron (B) may affect performance on cognitive tasks and psychomotor function. Among Zn deprived Chinese children (aged 6-9 y), treatment with 20 mg Zn/d or Zn plus micronutrients [Zn+M; 50% Recommended Dietary Allowances or mean Estimated Safe and Adequate Dietary Intakes, excluding Zn, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P); folate at 25% RDA] improved manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination more than treatment with micronutrients alone. Further, Zn+M improved performance on visual perception, non-verbal memory, and concept formation tasks more than treatment with either Zn or M alone. These findings complement similar results from two independent studies of young adult men and women in the United States, which showed positive effects of increased Zn intakes on memory, attention and psychomotor function. These findings have important implications for the world's population with suboptimal Zn intakes and status. In three studies conducted on older adults in the US, dietary B intakes > 3 mg/d improved manual dexterity, and performance on attention and short-term memory tasks, when compared to intakes < 0.25 mg B/d. Other effects of B on cognitive performance were observed in one but not all studies. Although B is not currently recognized as an essential nutrient, these findings suggest an important role for B in cognition and psychomotor function. Further experimental study of the consequences of Zn and B nutriture for cognitive performance and psychomotor function is necessary to determine the precise roles of these trace elements for optimal health and function in humans. |
