Zinc deficiency and child development
Key Finding
Zinc supplementation in deficient populations significantly improved attention, reasoning, and cognitive development in children.
Plain-English Summary
This systematic review examined the relationship between zinc deficiency and neurodevelopment in children, pooling evidence from supplementation trials and observational studies conducted across multiple countries.
Evidence showed that zinc deficiency impairs cognitive development, attention, and motor function. Supplementation in zinc-deficient populations improved attention, reasoning, and psychomotor function. Effects were most pronounced in children who were zinc-deficient at baseline.
Zinc is essential for over 300 enzymes in the brain, including those involved in neurotransmitter synthesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal growth. The hippocampus has particularly high zinc concentrations. Deficiency is common worldwide and can silently impair cognitive potential. Supplementation at 15-30mg daily effectively corrects deficiency and supports optimal brain function.