foodconsumer.org: Iodine Supplements May Boost Children's Mental Power

Iodine Supplements May Boost Children's Mental Power
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admin on 11/07/2009 18:56:00
 
One study published in the Oct 2009 issue of the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition suggested that iodine supplements may boost mental function in
children who have a mild deficiency of the nutrient.
Iodine is a trace element that is needed for normal growth and development of
the brain and other parts of the body.  Iodine must come from foods including
seafood, dairy products, plant based foods and iodized table salt.
Iodine deficiency in severe cases has long been known for inducing mental
impairment, stunted growth and other medical conditions in children.
For the study, Dr. Sheila A. Skeaff at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New
Zealand and colleagues assigned 184 children who were mildly iodine deficient
children a tablet containing 150 micrograms of iodine or a placebo daily for 28
weeks.
Those who were given iodine tablets gained better scores on two standard
cognitive tests which indicate problem-solving capabilities, than those given
placebo tablets.
By David Liu and editing by Rachel Stockton