Giving zinc supplements to children—or just encouraging them to eat
zinc-rich foods such as red meat—could improve their cognitive abilities.
In a study of 372 Chinese children aged between six and nine, funded by the US
Department of Agriculture, those who received food supplements containing 20
milligrams per day of zinc performed better in cognitive tests than those given
supplements without the element. In the US, 10 per cent of school-age girls and
6 per cent of boys consume less than the recommended daily allowance of 10
milligrams.
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