Printer Friendly FormatZinc & Dyslexia
Article reprinted from Pure Facts December/January 2005
New research has found that dyslexia can be prevented by adequate zinc intake and that dyslexic children can be helped by supplementing with this important mineral.A study published in the British medical journal, The Lancet, has found that children who suffer from dyslexia are severely deficient in zinc compared to children who are not dyslexic. Animal studies have shown that zinc deficiency impairs learning and that it is particularly important for a mother to have adequate stores of zinc before and during pregnancy.
Zinc appears to work with the B vitamins and enables the body to absorb and use the important essential fatty acids. It is needed for the many skills a child is asked to perform in school, and has been found to be directly related to intelligence test scores and children's behavior.
Zinc plays a part in many aspects of health including: the immune system, wound healing, the senses of taste and smell, a healthy reproductive system including prostate gland function. Zinc deficiency has been linked with eating disorders and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Like any mineral the body uses, zinc works in harmony with other minerals and an excess of one can be harmful. The easiest way to increase zinc without creating an imbalance is through a healthy and varied diet; good sources of zinc include: fish, legumes, meats, oysters, poultry, seafood, whole grains, eggs, lamb, liver, mushrooms, pecans, sardines, and sunflower seeds.