Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-21T09:19:45.707Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Zinc and cognitive development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Shinjini Bhatnagar  and
Sunita Taneja
Shinjini Bhatnagar*
Affiliation:
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029, India
Sunita Taneja
Affiliation:
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029, India
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Shinjini Bhatnagar, fax +91 11 6862663, email shinjini_bhatnagar@rediffmail.com
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Cognition is a field of thought processes by which an individual processes information through skills of perception, thinking, memory, learning and attention. Zinc deficiency may affect cognitive development by alterations in attention, activity, neuropsychological behavior and motor development. The exact mechanisms are not clear but it appears that zinc is essential for neurogenesis, neuronal migration, synaptogenesis and its deficiency could interfere with neurotransmission and subsequent neuropsychological behavior. Studies in animals show that zinc deficiency during the time of rapid brain growth, or during the juvenile and adolescent period affects cognitive development by decreasing activity, increasing emotional behavior, impairing memory and the capacity to learn. Evidence from human studies is limited. Low maternal intakes of zinc during pregnancy and lactation were found to be associated with less focused attention in neonates and decreased motor functions at 6 months of age. Zinc supplementation resulted in better motor development and more playfulness in low birth weight infants and increased vigorous and functional activity in infants and toddlers. In older school going children the data is controversial but there is some evidence of improved neuropsychological functions with zinc supplementation. Additional research is required to determine the exact biological mechanisms, the critical periods, the threshold of severity and the long-term effects of zinc deprivation on cognitive development.

Keywords

ZincCognition
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 85 , Issue S2 , May 2001 , pp. S139 - S145
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2001

References

Ashworth, A, Morris, SS, Lira, PIC & MC Gregor, SMG (1998) Zinc supplementation mental development and behaviour in low birth weight term infants in northeast Brazil. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 52, 223–227.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bayley, N (1969) Bayley Scales of Infant Development. New York: The Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
Bayley, N (1993) Bayley Scales of Infant Development. London: The Psychological Corporation, Harcort Brace & Co.Google Scholar
Bentley, ME, Caulfield, LE, Ram, M, Santizo, MC, Hurtado, E, Rivera, JA, Ruel, MT & Brown, KH (1997) Zinc supplementation affects the activity patterns of rural Guatemalan infants. Journal of Nutrition 127, 1333–1338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ben-Ari, Y & Cherubini, E (1991) Zinc and GABA in developing brain. Nature 353, 220.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Black, MM (1998) Zinc deficiency and child development. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 68 (suppl.), 464S-469S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brazelton, TB (1984) Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale. Second edition. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, Spastics International Medical Publications.Google Scholar
Cavan, KR, Gibson, RS, Grazioso, CF, Isalgue, MA, Ruz, M & Solomons, NW (1993) Growth and body composition of periurban Guatemalan children in relation to zinc status; a longitudinal zinc intervention trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 57, 344–352.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Colvin, RA, Davis, N, Nipper, W & Carter, PA (2000) Zinc transport in the brain: routes of zinc influx and efflux in neurons. Journal of Nutrition 130, 1484S-1487S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dipietro, JA, Hodgson, DM, Costigan, KA, Hilton, SC & Johnson, TR (1996) Development of fetal movements—fetal heart rate coupling from 20 weeks through term. Early Human Development 44, 139–151.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dipietro, JA, Hodgson, DM, Costigan, KA & Johnson, TRB (1996) Fetal neurobehavioral development. Child Development 67, 2553–2557.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dipietro, JA, Hodgson, DM, Costigan, KA, Johnson, TRB (1996 c) Fetal antecedents of infant temperament 67:2568–2583.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dreosti, IE & Smith, RM (1983) Neurobiology of the Trace Elements 1, Trace Elements Neurobiology and Deficiencies, pp. 135–162. Clifton, NJ: Humana Press.Google Scholar
Dvergsten, C, (1984) Retarded synaptogenesis and differentiation of cerebellar neurons in zinc -deficient rats The Neurobiology of Zinc, Part B: Deficiency, Toxicity and Pathology Vol. 11, pp. 17–31. [Fredericksen, C, Howell, G, Kasarkis, E, editors]. New York, NY: Alan R. Liss.Google Scholar
Fierke, C (2000) Function and mechanism of zinc. Journal of Nutrition 130, 1437S-1446S.Google Scholar
Fredericksen, CJ & Danscher, G (1990) Zinc containing neurons in the hippocampus and related CNS structures. Progress in Brain Research 83, 71–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fredericksen, CJ, Suh, SW, Silva, D, Frederickson, CJ & Thompson, RB (2000) Importance of zinc in the central nervous system the zinc containing neuron. Journal of Nutrition 130, 1471S-1483S.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Friel, JK, Andrews, WL, Mathew, DJ, Long, DR, Cornel, AM, McKim, MCD & Zerbe, GO (1993) Zinc supplementation in very low birth weight infants. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 1, 97–104.Google Scholar
Gibson, RS, Vanderkooy, PDS, Mac, Donald AC, Goldman, A, Ryan, BA & Berry, M (1989) A growth limiting, mild zinc deficiency syndrome in some Southern Ontario boys with low height percentiles. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 49, 1266–1273.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Golub, MS, Keen, CL, Gershwin, ME & Hendrickx, AG (1995) Developmental zinc deficiency and behavior. Journal of Nutrition 125, 2263S-2271S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Golub, MS, Takeuchi, PT, Keen, CL, Gershwin, ME, Hendricke, AG & Lonnerdal, B (1994) Modulation of behavioral performance of prepubertal monkeys by moderate dietary zinc deprivation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 60, 238–243.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Golub, MS, Keen, CL, Herdrickx, AG & Gershwin, ME (1990) Food preferences of young Rhesus monkeys fed marginally zinc deficient diets. Primates 32, 49–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Golub, MS, Gershwin, ME, Hurley, LS & Hendrickx, AG (1988) Studies of marginal zinc deprivation in rhesus monkeys VIII. Effects on early adolescence. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 47, 1046–1051.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Golub, MS, Gershwin, ME, Hurley, LS & Saito, WY (1985) Studies of marginal zinc deprivation in rhesus monkeys VII. Infant behavior. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42, 1229–1239.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Golub, MS, Gershwin, ME, Hurley, LS, Sation, WY & Hendrickx, AG (1984) Studies of marginal zinc deprivation in rhesus monkeys IV. Growth of infants in the first year. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 40, 1192–1202.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Golub, MS, Takeuchi, PT, Keen, CL, Hendrickx, AG & Gershwin, EM (1996) Activity and attention in zinc deprived adolescent monkeys. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 64, 905–915.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Griffiths, R; 1979 The abilities of babies. A study in mental measurement. England: Eden House.Google Scholar
Halas, ES & Sandstead, HH (1975) Some effects of pre-natal zinc deficiency on behavior of the adult rat. Pediatric Research 9, 94–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halas, ES, Reynolds, GM & Sandstead, HH (1977) Intra-uterine nutrition and its effects on aggression. Physiology and Behavior 19, 653–661.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Halas, ES, Heinrich, MD & Sandstead, HH (1979) Long term memory deficits in adult rats due to postnatal malnutrition. Physiology and Behavior 22, 991–997.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Halas, ES, Burger, PA & Sandstead, HH (1980) Food motivation of rehabilitated malnourished rats implications for learning studies. Animal Learn Behavior 8, 152–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halas, ES & Sandstead, SS (1982) Short term memory (STM) deficits due to mild zinc deficiency during gestation and lactation: a reffirmation. Federation Proceedings 41, 781.Google Scholar
Halas, ES, Eberhardt, MJ, Diers, MA & Sandstead, SS (1983) Learning and memory impairment in adult rats due to severe zinc deficiency during lactation. Physiology and Behaviour 30, 371–381.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hambidge, M (2000) Human zinc deficiency. Journal of Nutrition 130, 1344S-1349S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hammill, DD (1985) Detroit tests of learning aptitudeTX: Proed.Google Scholar
Hesse, GW (1979) Chronic zinc deficiency alters neuronal function of hippocampal mossy fibers. Science 205, 1005–1007.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Howell, GA, Welch, MG & Frederickson, CJ (1984) Stimulation induced uptake and release of zinc in hippocampal slices. Nature London 308, 736–738.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hurley, LS, Shrader, RE (1972) Congenital malformations of the nervous system in zinc deficient rats. In Neurobiology of the Trace Metals Zinc and Copper, pp. 51–60. [Pfeiffer, CC, editor]. New York, NY: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Kirksey, A, Rahmanifar, A, Wachs, TD, Mccabe, GP, Bassily, NS, Bishry, Z, Galal, OM, Harrison, GG & Jerome, NW (1991) Determinants of pregnancy outcome and newborn behavior of a semirural Egyptian population. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 54, 657–667.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kirksey, A, Wachs, TD, Yunis, F, Srinath, U, Rahmanifor, A, Mccabe, GP, Galal, OM, Harrison, GG & Jerome, NW (1994) Relation of maternal zinc nutriture to pregnancy outcome and infant development in an Egyptian village. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 60, 782–792.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lokken, PM, Halas, ES & Sandstead, HH (1973) Influence of zinc deficiency on behavior. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 144, 680–682.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Merialdi, M, Caulfield, LE, Zavalet, N, Figueroa, A & Di Pietro, JA (1999) Adding zinc to prenatal iron and folate tablets improves fetal neurobehavioural development. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 180, 483–490.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morley, JE, Gordon, J & Hershman, JM (1980) Zinc deficiency, chronic starvation, and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid function. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 33, 1767–1770.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Penland, JG, Sandstead, HH, Alcock, NW, Dayal, HH, Chen, XC, Li, JS, Shao, F & Yang, JJ (1997) A preliminary report: effects of zinc and micronutrient repletion on growth and neuropsychological function of urban Chinese children. Journal of American College Health 16, 268–272.Google ScholarPubMed
Pfeiffer, CC & Braverman, ER (1997) Zinc, the brain and behavior. Biology Psychology 17, 513–530.Google Scholar
Piaget, J (1997) The Language and Thought of the Child. Cleveland, OH: World Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Ruff, HA & Rauthbart, MK (1996) Attention in Early Development. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Sandstead, HH, Fosmire, GJ, McKenzie, JM & Halas, ES (1975) Zinc deficiency and brain development in the rat. Federation Proceedings 34, 86–88.Google ScholarPubMed
Sandstead, HH, Penland, JG, Alcok, NW, Dayal, HH, Chen, XC, Li, JS, Zhao, F & Yang, JJ (1998) Effects of repletion with zinc and other micronutrients on neuropsychologic performance and growth of Chinese children. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 68((Suppl.)), 470S-475S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sandstead, HH (1986) Nutrition and brain function: trace element. Nutritional Review 44, 37–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sazawal, S, Bentley, M, Black, RE, Dhingra, P, George, S & Bhan, MK (1996) Effect of zinc supplementation on observed activity in preschool children in an urban slum population. Pediatrics 98, 1132–1137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strobel, DA, Sandstead, HH (1984) Social and learning changes following prenatal or postnatal zinc deprivation in rhesus monkey. In The Neurobiology of Zinc. Part B: Deficiency, Toxicity and Pathology, pp. 121–138. [Frederickson, CJ, Howell, OA & Kasarskis, EJ, editors]. New York, NY: Alan R. Liss.Google Scholar
Wauben, PM & Wainwright, PE (1999) The influence of neonatal nutrition on behavioral development: a critical appraisal. Nutrition Review 57, 35–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wolke, D, Skuse, D & Mathisen, V (1990) Behavior style in failure to thrive infants: a preliminary communication. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 15, 237–254.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed