Multivitamin Improves Cognitive Function of Children
Researchers asked 81 children, ages 8-14, to take a low-potency once-a-day multivitamin/multimineral supplement for 12 weeks. The children were assessed with a variety of computer-based tests before and after taking the supplements on the first and last day of the study, as well as after 4 and 8 weeks. The cognitive tests focused on reaction time, symbol recognition, and memory. Overall, children who took the supplements gained faster reaction times and were able to distinguish between different images better.
Notes
It should be a "no brainer" that nutrition influences brain development and intelligence and that nutritional deficiencies impair cognitive function. In fact, studies have shown clearly that the addition of a simple multivitamin/multimineral supplement improves cognitive functioning and reduces aggressive behaviour (1,2)
Yet, physicians and researchers often argue about whether people "need" vitamins, when most conventional doctors do not even test blood levels of vitamins and minerals in their patients. In effect, these physicians are making pronouncements about the nutritional adequacy of patients without any basis for doing so.
One could certainly argue the need for supplementation without even making a case for orthomolecular, or optimal, concentrations of nutrients. All a physician would have to do is measure a patient's levels of vitamins and minerals, and then recommend supplements to achieve normal levels of any nutrient found to be sub-optimal.
Haskell CF, Scholey AB, Jackson PA, et al.
Cognitive and mood effects in healthy children during 12 weeks' supplementation with multivitamins/minerals. Br J Nutr 2008;100:1086-1096.
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