Feeding the brain – The effects of micronutrient interventions on cognitive performance among school-aged children: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Lam, Long fung; Lawlis, Tanya

doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2016.06.013

Cited by 59 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 30 publications

(4 reference statements)

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“…Some preventive trials with iron supplementation favor a beneficial effect of iron on motor development . Despite heterogeneity between studies, meta‐analyses indicate that antenatal micronutrient supplementation is beneficial for fluid intelligence and that especially iron supplementation is beneficial for a range of cognitive outcomes . Results from newer and larger randomized trials will update evidence on short‐term effects of antenatal iron supplementation on cognitive, mental, and motor development .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[24][25][26][27] Despite heterogeneity between studies, meta-analyses indicate that antenatal micronutrient supplementation is beneficial for fluid intelligence and that especially iron supplementation is beneficial for a range of cognitive outcomes. 28 Results from newer and larger randomized trials will update evidence on short-term effects of antenatal iron supplementation on cognitive, mental, and motor development. 29 In preschool children and lowergrade school children (<10 years), several reports have linked iron deficiency with marginally lower IQ scores.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Frequent blood donation and offspring scholastic attainment: an assessment of long‐term consequences of prenatal iron deficiency

et al. 2019

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BACKGROUND Due to physiological demands, children and premenopausal women are at risk of developing iron deficiency. In premenopausal women, the risk may be further increased by repeated whole blood donations. Short‐term consequences of iron deficiency in infancy include impaired cognitive development and lower IQ scores. This prompts concern that maternal iron deficiency before or during pregnancy may have long‐term consequences for the offspring, for example, by affecting scholastic attainment. The aim of this study was to evaluate if prepregnancy donation intensity is associated with offspring scholastic attainment measured as grade averages in standardized national written examinations in Denmark. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS By using the Danish personal identification number as key, we obtained information on donation intensity before pregnancy, school grade, year of graduation, age of the students, students' sex, and parental length of education and income from various nationwide registers. Linear regression analyses were performed, with grade average as outcome and maternal donation status as explanatory variable (nondonor, n = 177,078; low‐frequency donor, n = 4995 [one to five donations in the 3 years before pregnancy]; high‐frequency donor, n = 414 [six or more donations in the 3 years before pregnancy), and further adjusted for the covariates listed above. RESULTS Adjusted normalized (mean, 0; standard deviation [SD], 1) test scores were statistically significantly higher for children of active female donors compared with children of nondonors (SD, 0.104; 95% confidence interval, 0.079–0.129). We observed no differences in scholastic attainment between children of low‐frequency donors and high‐frequency donors. CONCLUSION Prepregnancy donation intensity, as a proxy of iron stores, is not associated with subsequent offspring scholastic attainment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frequent blood donation and offspring scholastic attainment: an assessment of long‐term consequences of prenatal iron deficiency

et al. 2019

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“…Food fortification has been an effective public health strategy to decrease micronutrient deficiencies [15,16], but the effect of micronutrient-fortified food on academic performance remains unclear [17,18]. A 2012 literature review [17] identified four studies, none of which showed a positive effect of micronutrient supplementations on school examination grades.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A 2012 literature review [17] identified four studies, none of which showed a positive effect of micronutrient supplementations on school examination grades. On the other hand, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in 2016 [18] reported a lack of consistency in school performance among students receiving micronutrient interventions. In the latter review, 8 of 19 trials incorporated assessment of academic performance, and one reported significant improvements in mathematics, while no improvement was observed in other academic subjects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micronutrient‐Fortified Milk and Academic Performance among Chinese Middle School Students: A Cluster‐Randomized Controlled Trial

et al. 2017

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Many children suffer from nutritional deficiencies that may negatively affect their academic performance. This cluster-randomized controlled trial aimed to test the effects of micronutrient-fortified milk in Chinese students. Participants received either micronutrient-fortified (n = 177) or unfortified (n = 183) milk for six months. Academic performance, motivation, and learning strategies were estimated by end-of-term tests and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. Blood samples were analyzed for micronutrients. In total, 296 students (82.2%) completed this study. Compared with the control group, students in the intervention group reported higher scores in several academic subjects (p < 0.05), including languages, mathematics, ethics, and physical performance at the end of follow-up. Students in the intervention group showed greater self-efficacy and use of cognitive strategies in learning, and reported less test anxiety (p < 0.001). Moreover, vitamin B2 deficiency (odds ratio (OR) = 0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.11~0.30) and iron deficiency (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14~0.81) were less likely in the students of the intervention group, whereas vitamin D, vitamin B12, and selenium deficiencies were not significantly different. “Cognitive strategy” had a partial mediating effect on the test scores of English (95% CI: 1.26~3.79) and Chinese (95% CI: 0.53~2.21). Our findings suggest that micronutrient-fortified milk may improve students’ academic performance, motivation, and learning strategies.

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“…The impact of breakfast and diet have also been the subject of attention, and although the findings are clear in respect the negative impact of poor diet [29] [30], the identification of the best breakfast to enhance performance has proven more difficult [31] [32] [33]. A recent review of micronutrient supplementation studies concluded that positive effects were only to be found for children deficient as a consequence of diet, with no overall enhancement effects observed [34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Any Sense in Classroom Scents? Aroma of Rosemary Essential Oil Significantly Improves Cognition in Young School Children

Moss¹,

Earl²,

Moss³

et al. 2017

ACES

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The inhalation of the aroma of Rosemary essential oil has been shown to enhance cognition in healthy adults. In this independent groups design study we exposed forty schoolchildren aged nine to eleven years to either Rosemary aroma or no aroma in a classroom setting where they completed standardised tests of working memory in fifteen minute procedure. Analysis of the data revealed that performance on the Immediate serial recall, Sentence span, and Counting span tasks were significantly better in the Rosemary aroma condition and possessed medium to large effect sizes. This is the first study to demonstrate such effects in children and suggests that the potential for enhancement is greater than in adults. The findings are discussed in terms of the potential for improving academic attainment through natural interventions and the possible mechanisms behind such effects.

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Feeding the brain – The effects of micronutrient interventions on cognitive performance among school-aged children: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Cited by 59 publications

References 30 publications

Frequent blood donation and offspring scholastic attainment: an assessment of long‐term consequences of prenatal iron deficiency

Frequent blood donation and offspring scholastic attainment: an assessment of long‐term consequences of prenatal iron deficiency

Micronutrient‐Fortified Milk and Academic Performance among Chinese Middle School Students: A Cluster‐Randomized Controlled Trial

Any Sense in Classroom Scents? Aroma of Rosemary Essential Oil Significantly Improves Cognition in Young School Children

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