Repletion of Zinc and Iron Deficiencies Improve Cognition of Premenopausal Women
Abstract
Zinc and iron deficiencies are common among young women who seldom consume red meat. It seemed likely that iron stores (measured by serum ferritin concentration) were related to zinc nutriture (measured by metabolically active zinc pools), and that food frequency would reflect these relationships. Zinc and iron are essential for brain function. It therefore, seemed likely that the low zinc and iron nutriture would adversely affect neuropsychological performance. To test these hypotheses, iron deficient young women without anemia were recruited for measurements of zinc kinetics, and for participation in a double blind randomized controlled trial of zinc and iron treatment on neuropsychological function. Serum ferritin and the rapidly exchangeable tissue zinc pool correlated significantly, as did plasma zinc and the rapidly exchangeable zinc, and serum ferritin and exchangeable zinc were predicted by a focused food frequency questionnaire. Zinc and iron repletion were both efficacious for aspects of neuropsychological function. Zinc was especially efficacious for eyehand coordination, reasoning and short-term visual memory. The neuropsychological findings were consistent with observations in other populations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA407694
Entities
People
- Harold H. Sandstead
Organizations
- University of Texas Medical Branch