Zinc & Memory - Tanner

[Guest guest]

Just a beginning, but here are some articles I found with a quick search:

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Ab

stract & list_uids=15294515

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(Suppl):S46. Related Articles, Links

Multiple micronutrients may lead to improved cognitive function in NE Thai

schoolchildren.

Manger MS, Winichagoon P, Pongcharoen T, Gorwachirapan S, Boonpraderm A,

McKenzie J, Gibson RS.

Department of Human Nutrition University of Otago, New Zealand.

Background - Deficiencies of iron, iodine and zinc can affect the learning

abilities and cognitive function of children. In a study in rural NE Thai

school children, 31% were anaemic, 44% had moderate iodine deficiency, based

on urinary iodine <0.40micromol/L, and 57% had serum zinc levels indicative

of zinc deficiency. Objective - To determine the efficacy of a seasoning

powder fortified with iron, iodine, vitamin A and zinc served with noodles

or rice consumed for school lunch on biochemical status and cognitive

function in 567 rural NE Thai children. Design - Randomized controlled trial

of children 6-12 yr recruited from ten rural schools in Ubon Ratchanthani

province. Children were stratified by age and gender, and then randomly

assigned to receive either the placebo or a fortified seasoning powder

containing 1/3 of the Thai RDA for iron, iodine, zinc and vitamin A per

serve. Initial and final non-fasting blood samples were taken for complete

blood count, haemoglobinopathy assessment (baseline only) and biochemical

analysis. Cognitive function was assessed after 31 weeks by a visual recall

test where 15 objects were displayed for one minute, covered for one minute

and then recalled by the child, and the digit span subtest from the Wechsler

Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) III. Outcomes - There was a

significant treatment effect on haemoglobin, serum zinc and urinary iodine.

Children in the treatment group had significantly higher visual recall

scores compared with placebo (10.01 vs. 9.45 items, 95% CI for difference

0.15, 0.99, P=0.008). This finding was independent of age, gender, estimated

annual family income and haemoglobin type. There was no significant effect

on the digit span test. Conclusion - Seasoning powder fortified with four

micronutrients reduced the incidence of zinc and iodine deficiency and

increased haemoglobin concentration over 31 weeks, while at the same time

improving short term memory and attention, and thus may contribute to

improved overall cognitive functioning over time. Supported by Micronutrient

Initiative Fund and University of Otago.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Ab

stract & list_uids=11509102

Br J Nutr. 2001 May;85 Suppl 2:S139-45. Related Articles, Links

Zinc and cognitive development.

Bhatnagar S, Taneja S.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029,

India. shinjini_bhatnagar@...

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.

Publication Types:

Review

Review, Tutorial

PMID: 11509102 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Sorry, this one's about rats, but seemed quite relevant anyway. No offense

meant.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Ab

stract & list_uids=11274675

Physiol Behav. 2001 Feb;72(3):339-48. Related Articles, Links

Age-dependent influence of dietary zinc restriction on short-term memory in

male rats.

Keller KA, Grider A, Coffield JA.

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine,

The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.

Zinc is an essential micro-nutrient involved in numerous physiological

functions. The high content of zinc in the hippocampus, coupled with the

integral involvement of the hippocampus in memory, strongly implicates zinc

in memory processing. The hypothesis of the current study was that dietary

zinc restriction influenced short-term memory in postweaned rats, and this

influence was age-dependent. Male rats (43 days to 18 months old) were

divided into five experimental groups based on age, and fed zinc-adequate

(zinc at 20 mg/kg as zinc chloride) or zinc-deficient (zinc less than 1-2

mg/kg) diets for a minimum of 3 weeks. Short-term memory was assessed using

the distal-cue version of the water maze (MWM). All rats fed the

zinc-restricted diet exhibited cyclic anorexia, decreased weight gain, and

significantly lower liver and femur zinc concentrations compared to

age-matched controls. Further, whole brain, hippocampal, and cerebral wet

weights were significantly reduced in the zinc-restricted treatment groups

of all the age groups. Only zinc-restricted rats that were less than 62 days

of age at the start of zinc restriction demonstrated significantly prolonged

escape latencies in the water maze, indicating deficits in short-term

memory. Regression analyses confirmed that the short-term memory deficits

were correlated with significantly lower hippocampal and cerebral zinc

concentrations compared to age-matched control and pair-fed rats. These

results emphasize the significance of a critical age of influence for

dietary zinc in memory processing, and the importance of considering age

when studying zinc nutriture and CNS function.

PMID: 11274675 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Ab

stract & list_uids=10721907

J Nutr. 2000 Feb;130(2S Suppl):361S-364S. Related Articles, Links

Behavioral data and methodology issues in studies of zinc nutrition in

humans.

Penland JG.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks

Human Nutrition Research Center, ND 58202-9034, USA.

Despite the widespread incidence of childhood zinc (Zn) deficiency and

strong evidence that Zn deprivation during periods of rapid growth affect

brain development and behavior in animals, there is little research on the

behavioral effects of Zn deficiency in children or adults. A brief review of

previous human studies is followed by more detailed discussion of recent

studies of Chinese and Mexican-American children, which showed beneficial

effects of Zn repletion on neuropsychologic function. Methodology issues are

reviewed and recommendations are made to assess the following: 1) a broad

range of cognitive, psychomotor, emotional and social factors; 2)

performance in the presence of secondary stressors to approximate real-world

conditions more accurately; 3) continuous activity and rest in older

children by the use of electronic activity monitors; and 4)

electrophysiologic measures of brain function. It is concluded that research

on cognition, behavioral activity and brain electrophysiology as outcomes of

Zn deficiency and response to improved Zn nutrition is critical, given that

Zn deficiency is common in both developing and developed countries.

Publication Types:

Review

Review, Tutorial

PMID: 10721907 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Full Text, which includes information on depleted zinc levels and impaired

memory at:

http://www.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/130/2/361S

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Here's an excerpt from an online health website article on zinc and memory.

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/10/81.cfm

Iron and Zinc to Help You Think

While researchers have established the importance of iron and zinc in the

mental development of infants, you have to dig into the scientific

literature before you'll find studies showing that these minerals help make

for better memories in adults as well.

In one small preliminary study, researchers measured the effects of mild

zinc or iron deficiency on short-term memory in 34 women between ages 18 and

40, a group at risk for low levels of both minerals.

For eight weeks, researchers gave the women either 30 milligrams of zinc, 30

milligrams of iron or both or supplements containing other micronutrients. A

mental test found that the short-term memories of those taking zinc or iron

improved by 15 to 20 percent, says Harold Sandstead, M.D., professor in the

Department of Prevention Medicine and Community Health at the University of

Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Those who took iron supplements had better short-term verbal memory, while

visual memory, or the ability to remember pictures, was improved by both

zinc and iron.

Although the women received supplements during the study, Dr. Sand stead

says that foods are much better sources of these nutrients. Steamed clams

and oysters, Cream of Wheat cereal, soybeans and pumpkin seeds are all good

sources of iron, while whole grains, wheat bran, wheat germ, seafood and

meats are top sources of zinc.

Women who menstruate need between 2 and 2.5 milligrams of iron a day to

offset loss of the mineral, explains Dr. Sandstead. (The Daily Value for

iron is much higher-18 milligrams-because your body doesn't absorb all of

the mineral that you take in.) " If they have heavy menstrual loss, the level

goes up even more, " he adds. Men need about 1 milligram of iron a day.

And how does iron help memory? Experts believe that pumping up your iron

intake helps build those all-important brain neurotransmitters, among other

things.

For a closer look at zinc's role in helping you to think, researchers at the

U.S. Department of Agriculture Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

in North Dakota fed ten men living at the center meals containing one, two,

three, four or ten milligrams of zinc every day for five weeks each.

At the end of the 25-week study, researchers noted that the week the men ate

ten milligrams of zinc a day, they were better able to remember shapes and

responded faster to simple motor tasks, says G. Penland, Ph.D., head

researcher at the center and author of the study. " There was a very clear

improvement at ten milligrams versus the other amounts, with the others

being more or less the same, " he says.

And how does zinc help memory? Apparently, vitamin B6 can't do its job

without zinc pitching in, says Dr. Ebadi. " In the absence of zinc, active B6

is not formed properly in the brain, and as a result, neither are key

neurotransmitters, " he says. Not only that, but large amounts of zinc have

been found in the brain's memory center, the hippocampus.

Some experts say that some elderly people may get less than half of the zinc

that they need. (The Daily Value for zinc is 15 milligrams.)

[Guest guest]

Interesting given that some children respond well to Carn-aware an

amino acid which includes zinc in the formuala created by Dr. Chez.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Theresa!

About the zinc -Tanner does do well with extra zinc from what I've

seen with carn-aware, but so far I only give that to him when he

takes the carn-aware which contains zinc with the carnosine. (which

I give him on an on and off schedule) So far have not given him

zinc alone, and he's now 8 and only has taken the carn-aware for a

year or so?

He's always had the unusual memory..even long before EFAs or zinc, like many

of our kids do at preschool age. For example -you tell your two

year old late talker (delay or disordered) that " no more cookies

tonight. Tomorrow you can have another cookie " and tomorrow

morning that child wakes up and goes to the place you keep the

cookies and points. Or you drive someplace once and the next time

you go there they point out which way to go next on the road. Not

the out of sight out of mind short attention span most 2 year olds

have.

I do know there are strong nutritional links to helping our

children. And nutritional links should also be included more in

studies as to why the increase in various conditions.

For example the rise in fried and/or processed foods and thus the

decrease in essential fatty acids (like the fish oils contain). Or

to answer the question -do genetically altered foods affect us in

any way?

http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/14/gm_foods.htm

So many questions.. so what's one more?

Does anyone else have older children to try the ride therapy

recently, like The Hulk or Rock N Roller Coaster? It's just so

amazing with Tanner. NASA may again have some answers. If we look

at what G Force is and how it affects us neurologically/ and

chemically as Colleen brought up to me.

Not much to find on why the amazing temporary surge in Tanner -which

is why I bring up NASA -they may hold an answer?

http://exploration.nasa.gov/articles/07feb_stronggravity.html

Or:

Check out the end of page 5 point # 4 for about how much has been

studied on effects of rides on our bodies

http://www.aans.org/Neuro-Knowledge_White_Paper.pdf

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[Guest guest]

Hey ,

I guess that the quote I sent you first from McGinnis suggested that Tanner

may have low plasma zinc levels, not a deficiency. If he had a deficiency,

you're right -- he wouldn't have such good attention span, memory, etc. This

could mean that the rapid induction of metallothionein by taking the oral

GSH depleted his already low zinc level very rapidly. I know that when

chelating, need for zinc goes way up, and there is a slight possibility that

the " rapid induction of metallotheionein " meant that metals were being moved

around.

Carn-Aware only has 2.5 mg of zinc in it. Your multivitamin perhaps has

more. Children 4-8 years evidently need 5 mg a day (see

http://www.vitaminherbuniversity.com/topic.asp?categoryid=2 & topicid=1029;

http://books.nap.edu/books/0309072794/html/467.html#pagetop ).

Neuro-atypical kids such as kids with apraxia often need more to bring up

their usually lowered zinc levels, as these are often in competition with

several metal imbalances, notably copper.

If you want to squint really hard one night at a totally mind-boggling

chapter on Zinc, look at this, the first page of that chapter in " Dietary

Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium,

Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and

Zinc " (2000) by the

Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) and Institute of Medicine (IOM):

http://books.nap.edu/books/0309072794/html/442.html#pagetop It may give you

some clues.

It's just a thought, but you might want to have a plasma trace elements test

done on Tanner to see where he stands on these things.

I totally agree that it's best to supplement with a doctor who knows what

supplementing means and does. I guess that a DAN! doctor will know just

what to look for in an apraxic child and will order comprehensive tests

before and during supplementation.

Loved Colleen's NASA links. Have been looking in the archives for them, but

didn't find them. Thanks.

Best,

Theresa

>

> Thanks Theresa!

>

> About the zinc -Tanner does do well with extra zinc from what I've

> seen with carn-aware, but so far I only give that to him when he

> takes the carn-aware which contains zinc with the carnosine. (which

> I give him on an on and off schedule) So far have not given him

> zinc alone, and he's now 8 and only has taken the carn-aware for a

> year or so?

>

> He's always had the unusual memory..even long before EFAs or zinc, like

many

> of our kids do at preschool age. For example -you tell your two

> year old late talker (delay or disordered) that " no more cookies

> tonight. Tomorrow you can have another cookie " and tomorrow

> morning that child wakes up and goes to the place you keep the

> cookies and points. Or you drive someplace once and the next time

> you go there they point out which way to go next on the road. Not

> the out of sight out of mind short attention span most 2 year olds

> have.

>

> I do know there are strong nutritional links to helping our

> children. And nutritional links should also be included more in

> studies as to why the increase in various conditions.

>

> For example the rise in fried and/or processed foods and thus the

> decrease in essential fatty acids (like the fish oils contain). Or

> to answer the question -do genetically altered foods affect us in

> any way?

> http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/14/gm_foods.htm

>

> So many questions.. so what's one more?

>

> Does anyone else have older children to try the ride therapy

> recently, like The Hulk or Rock N Roller Coaster? It's just so

> amazing with Tanner. NASA may again have some answers. If we look

> at what G Force is and how it affects us neurologically/ and

> chemically as Colleen brought up to me.

>

> Not much to find on why the amazing temporary surge in Tanner -which

> is why I bring up NASA -they may hold an answer?

> http://exploration.nasa.gov/articles/07feb_stronggravity.html

>

> Or:

> Check out the end of page 5 point # 4 for about how much has been

> studied on effects of rides on our bodies

> http://www.aans.org/Neuro-Knowledge_White_Paper.pdf

>

> =====

>