Multivitamin Supplements Improve the Cognitive Performance of Children

[CognitiveNutrition]

Multivitamin Supplements Improve the Cognitive Performance of Children





It is a well-known fact that modern diets tend to have insufficient levels of many important nutrients, and that the shortage of these nutrients leads to a seemingly unending list of health problems. Studies of nutrient deficiencies often look at health problems in adults, particularly in the elderly who are especially at risk of not getting enough nutrition. However, many children do not receive adequate levels of vitamins and minerals in their diet either. Vitamin consumption has been associated with cognitive performance, and previous studies have found that micronutrient fortification improves verbal learning and memory in school-aged children.

A recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study tested the effects of a multivitamin/mineral supplement on cognitive performance and mood in children. 75 children between the ages of 8 and 14 were given either a supplement or placebo for 12 weeks, and were tested on a variety of laboratory trials. The supplement contained nutrients including vitamins A, B, C, D3 and E as well as folic acid, biotin, copper, calcium, zinc, magnesium, lysine, and B-carotene.

Although the multivitamins had no apparent effect on mood, there was a consistent pattern of improvement in laboratory tests that observed accuracy of performance, as well as an improved reaction time. One of the tests that supplemented children performed better on was designed to assess attention in the presence of distracting information. The study concluded that the supplement had beneficial effects on selective attention.

Vitamins and minerals are essential for optimal cognitive performance, as well as for many other physiological processes. Such nutrients affect brain function both directly and indirectly. Their effects involve processes including the production of neurotransmitters, energy metabolism, and blood flow in the brain, among many others. Therefore, it is important for children to receive a balanced amount of vitamins and minerals for optimal cognitive performance, as well as for overall health.

Haskell CF, Scholey AB, Jackson PA, Elliott JM, Defeyter MA, Greer J, Robertson BC, Buchanan T, Tiplady B and Kennedy DO. Cognitive and mood effects in healthy children during 12 weeks? supplementation with multi-vitamin/minerals. British Journal of Nutrition. 2008;published online ahead of print.

[SledgeBoy]

Interesting but not too surprising, I would have thought mood would increase as well.

[CognitiveNutrition]

Interesting but not too surprising, I would have thought mood would increase as well.

Probably more Omega 3 dependant.

[Peter LeDrew]

Interesting but not too surprising, I would have thought mood would increase as well.

12 weeks would not be enough time to access many factors of a multi in improving health... the study showed good signs and longer duration would likely show many improvements in health such as mood.

Improved nutrition results in healthier cells and I believe 6 months is the minimum duration where complete cell renewal would occur and thus the complete benefits of effective nutrition and supplementation would be noticed.

[CognitiveNutrition]

12 weeks would not be enough time to access many factors of a multi in improving health... the study showed good signs and longer duration would likely show many improvements in health such as mood.

Improved nutrition results in healthier cells and I believe 6 months is the minimum duration where complete cell renewal would occur and thus the complete benefits of effective nutrition and supplementation would be noticed.

Excellent point.

[java568]

Have you thought of starting a cognitive nutrition line specifically designed for babies/infants/children? There are tons of parents out there willing to spend money to make sure their child turns into Einstein!

[CognitiveNutrition]

Have you thought of starting a cognitive nutrition line specifically designed for babies/infants/children? There are tons of parents out there willing to spend money to make sure their child turns into Einstein!

The ethics people will come after me.

[heshstamps26]

I dont understand why the "modern diet" can't provide enough nutrients for kids. Instead of giving kids a multivitamin parents should improve their children's diets. It's thinking like this that may seem helpful but in the end the best solution is always to eat healthier. Not to mention eating healthier decreases the risk of obesity, chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes and gives kids the energy they need to grow, learn and play. Not to mention toxic levels of many vitamins and minerals can lead to some nasty symptoms.
I'm sick of seeing all these fat unhealthy kids and these nutritionally ignorant parents.

[bull.dogz]

Have you ever actually tried to get a kid to eat healthy...my dog has probably eaten more broccoli than my son has.

[FlyingV]

Great, though not surprising as the other poster said; it's a lot like, "We gave these young plants fertilizer, and they grew better".

I often find myself wishing they'd be a lot more specific about what supplements they use in studies and this is a case-in-point:

"The supplement contained nutrients including vitamins A, B, C, D3 and E as well as folic acid, biotin, copper, calcium, zinc, magnesium, lysine, and B-carotene."

OK, did it contain other nutrients or just those?
What forms of each nutrients?
How much of each nutrient?
Full B complex or not? Choline, inositol?
Iron?
Chromium?
Manganese?
Boron?
Molybdenum?
Why would a multi include lysine and (presumably) no other essential amino acids?
Were they taken with food?

Is there a good reason for authors to be so vague and incomplete regarding the supplement that was the very centerpiece of an otherwise scientific study? Maybe that info is in the main paper and left out of the abstract, however I personally would consider that info important enough to include in the abstract.

[java568]

Great, though not surprising as the other poster said; it's a lot like, "We gave these young plants fertilizer, and they grew better".

I often find myself wishing they'd be a lot more specific about what supplements they use in studies and this is a case-in-point:

"The supplement contained nutrients including vitamins A, B, C, D3 and E as well as folic acid, biotin, copper, calcium, zinc, magnesium, lysine, and B-carotene."

OK, did it contain other nutrients or just those?
What forms of each nutrients?
How much of each nutrient?
Full B complex or not? Choline, inositol?
Iron?
Chromium?
Manganese?
Boron?
Molybdenum?
Why would a multi include lysine and (presumably) no other essential amino acids?
Were they taken with food?

Is there a good reason for authors to be so vague and incomplete regarding the supplement that was the very centerpiece of an otherwise scientific study? Maybe that info is in the main paper and left out of the abstract, however I personally would consider that info important enough to include in the abstract.

My guess is if you were able to find an abstract that went along with this you'd be able to find the full study text and it would tell you exactly. They probably just shortened it down in the interest of saving text in the article.

[D1111]

interesting

[heshstamps26]

Have you ever actually tried to get a kid to eat healthy...my dog has probably eaten more broccoli than my son has.

it's still the parents responsibility to make sure their children eat the right foods. Why do you think we have such a obese child epidemic in this country?

[DistortionTheory]

Ya know, I read somewhere that they are going to start including choline in children's vitamins. I wonder how that will affect a maturing brain.

[DRP7]

Multivitamin Supplements Improve the Cognitive Performance of Children

Have baseline nutrient levels (serum/plasma/urine) and nutrient intake been examined in the children?

If not, then it is not clear whether the effects from the multivitamin supplement are due to compensating dietary deficits or not.

[CognitiveNutrition]

Have baseline nutrient levels (serum/plasma/urine) and nutrient intake been examined in the children?

If not, then it is not clear whether the effects from the multivitamin supplement are due to compensating dietary deficits or not.

Did you read the first part of my post?

""many children do not receive adequate levels of vitamins and minerals in their diet ""

[DRP7]

Did you read the first part of my post?

""many children do not receive adequate levels of vitamins and minerals in their diet ""

have you even understood my comment?


what does the general remark "many children do not receive adequate levels.." have to do with the actual, measured levels in those children that participated in the study?

[java568]

have you even understood my comment?


what does the general remark "many children do not receive adequate levels.." have to do with the actual, measured levels in those children that participated in the study?

such a harsh comment from such a happy looking name

[CognitiveNutrition]

have you even understood my comment?


what does the general remark "many children do not receive adequate levels.." have to do with the actual, measured levels in those children that participated in the study?

Of course I understand your comment, but that was not the purpose of the study. You're asking for something outside the design of the study.

[DRP7]

such a harsh comment from such a happy looking name

cognitive nutrition and i are two old buddies, i think we don't have any problems with each other, right?

Of course I understand your comment, but that was not the purpose of the study. You're asking for something outside the design of the study.

dude, i asked exactely for the study design: did it incorporate measurement / quantification of baseline levels or not? why so defensive today?

[CognitiveNutrition]

cognitive nutrition and i are two old buddies, i think we don't have any problems with each other, right?


dude, i asked exactely for the study design: did it incorporate measurement / quantification of baseline levels or not? why so defensive today?

Since that was not the purpose of the study no they did not. It's clearly stated in the first post so I hate repeating myself.

I have never met you or know anything about you. However at the moment I'm not aware we have any issues.

I do have the full article if you or anyone else wants it.

[DRP7]

It's clearly stated in the first post so I hate repeating myself.

nowhere in he first post it is mentioned whether they have measured baseline levels of anything or not.

[Jules Verne]

it's still the parents responsibility to make sure their children eat the right foods. Why do you think we have such a obese child epidemic in this country?

Easier said than done sometimes. Even if they are eating decent food, they could easily be lacking in one or two vitamins and minerals.

Although by the time they get to 8 this should be less of an issue. But still their diets can be really fickle and of course they want to copy what everyone else (read friends, not parents) is doing, even if they know better.

Decent diet + 'supplemental' vitamins/minerals. Just like for adults. Supplemental vitamins will never be a good replacement for a good diet.

[trnhrd]

This is just me, I think that everyone who does not truly keep track of their nutrient intake should be on a multivitamin. Not a "one-a-day" with garbage, but a real multivitamin: Alive, OptiMen, Just One, or Animal Parade (kids).

Children are the ones impacted most by dietary imbalances. Adults generally pass off the side effects of not eating right, but children need that little "push." To me it makes sense that a multivitamin would help children's performance to a degree, nothing extravagant. The body needs the various nutrients to function. If your diet is lacking essentials, it will not operate up to par.

It has been my experience that a good multi helps keep me balanced and I can tell the difference between using the supplement and not. Kids probably can tell too. I know when I was in High School I was able to tell a difference depending on the vitamin supplement.

[chickenbreast]

Oh, buongiorno signore..

[bull.dogz]

it's still the parents responsibility to make sure their children eat the right foods. Why do you think we have such a obese child epidemic in this country?

It's not just diet though...it's diet AND exercise.