Zinc is a micronutrient vital for the hippocampal region of the brain, which is crucial for memory function. One study found that the zinc levels of children with dyslexia were significantly lower than matched controls without dyslexia (16).
Studies have also shown that children with dyslexia are also usually deficient in Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D, so we recommend taking them as supplements as well at an age appropriate dosage.
Dyslexia and Asperger's fall between those two extremes. These delays in development are due to genetic tendencies that are triggered by a vitamin D deficiency. Another such trigger could be a deficiency in Omega-3's.
Zinc deficiency can lead to loss of appetite, growth retardation and impaired immune function. In severe cases, it can result in hair loss, diarrhea and delayed sexual maturation. Zinc deficiency can be treated through diet. Refugee and internationally adopted children should receive a multivitamin containing zinc.
If chronic, severe, and untreated, zinc deficiency can be fatal. Less drastic symptoms include infections, hypogonadism, weight loss, emotional disturbance, dermatitis, alopecia, impaired taste acuity, night blindness, poor appetite, delayed wound healing, and elevated blood ammonia levels.
The clinical manifestations in severe cases of zinc deficiency include bullous-pustular dermatitis, alopecia, diarrhea, emotional disorder, weight loss, intercurrent infections, hypogonadism in males; it is fatal if unrecognized and untreated.
Zinc deficiency can cause symptoms like diarrhea, cold symptoms, rash, vision problems, or weight loss. Your provider may order blood tests to help diagnose a zinc deficiency or rule out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms.
Although the mechanisms linking zinc deficiency with cognitive development are unclear, it appears that zinc deficiency may lead to deficits in children's neuropsychologic functioning, activity, or motor development, and thus interfere with cognitive performance.
However, zinc present in excess or deficiency can cause significant pathology in patients that include deleterious effects neurologically. Zinc in excess in vivo can cause focal neuronal pathology, while zinc deficiency can bring about mental lethargy, neuropsychiatric disorders, and reduced nerve conduction.
Zinc deficiency affects the skin and gastrointestinal tract; brain and central nervous system, immune, skeletal, and reproductive systems. Zinc deficiency in humans is caused by reduced dietary intake, inadequate absorption, increased loss, or increased body system use. The most common cause is reduced dietary intake.
What Causes Dyslexia? It's linked to genes, which is why the condition often runs in families. You're more likely to have dyslexia if your parents, siblings, or other family members have it. The condition stems from differences in parts of the brain that process language.
Sometimes this is just childhood dyslexia that isn't diagnosed until much later. But it is also possible to develop the same symptoms as a result of brain injury or dementia. In fact, a 2012 study at the University of Dundee concluded that the normal process of ageing tends to make us mildly dyslexic as we get older.
Genetics. Dyslexia is highly genetic and runs in families. A child with one parent with dyslexia has a 30% to 50% chance of inheriting it. Genetic conditions like Down syndrome can also make dyslexia more likely to happen.
Salmon and sardines are excellent choices for a dyslexia diet. Tuna fish is another good choice for the dyslexic child, although you might limit it to one serving per week. In addition, choose foods that have moderate amounts of iron, as iron deficiency may worsen the effects of dyslexia.
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In summary, the brain of a person with dyslexia has a different distribution of metabolic activation than the brain of a person without reading problems when accomplishing the same language task. There is a failure of the left hemisphere rear brain systems to function properly during reading.
Usually, zinc replacement therapy is continued for 3–4 months. If initiated within 6 months after the onset of zinc deficiency, the response rate to this therapy (the percentage of cases where the therapy is effective or markedly effective) is 70% or higher.
Your body doesn't need a large amount of zinc. The recommended daily allowance for adults is 8 - 11 mg. It's common to have slightly low levels of zinc, but taking a multivitamin, plus eating a healthy diet, should give you all the zinc you need.
The excessive loss of zinc results in severe deficiency of zinc. Manifestations such as dermatologic, alopecia, neuropsychiatric, weight loss, and intercurrent infections are commonly seen.
What are the best sources of zinc? The best source of zinc is oysters, but it's also plentiful in red meat and poultry. Other good sources are beans, nuts, crab, lobster, whole grains, breakfast cereals, and dairy products.
Zinc is important for your brain's nerve signals, while magnesium is essential for memory and learning. Low magnesium levels have been linked to some neurological conditions, such as migraines, depression, and epilepsy.
Left untreated, zinc deficiency can cause many adverse effects, including growth retardation, poor appetite, delayed sexual development, learning and memory disabilities, impaired immunity, and diabetes [1, 3,4,5,6,7,8,9].
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for zinc is listed by gender and age group in Table 1. Infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant and lactating women are at increased risk of zinc deficiency.
Zinc Taste Test Procedure
Put 2 teaspoons of the zinc solution in your mouth, swirling it for 30 seconds, then simply swallow it or spit it out. Take note of your reactions to the zinc, expressed either as facial expressions or verbal comments.