DeakinUniversity health researchers have found that increasing iron and zinc intakes can
help boost a woman's mood and memory and may be a way to address cognitive
decline in old age.
In a review
published in Nutrients, the
researchers with Deakin's School
of Psychology and Centre for Physical
Activity and Nutrition Research (C-PAN) examined studies into the positive
mood and cognitive effects of increasing iron and zinc intakes in women between
12 and 55 years old. . The researchers found
that increasing iron intakes via supplements improved memory and intellectual
ability, and increasing zinc intakes also via supplements improved depressive
symptoms in women who either already had depression or had low zinc levels.
The important
role iron and zinc play in mental health have lead the researchers to believe these
nutrients might also be useful in addressing cognitive decline in old age.
"The results
from this review study provide evidence of the importance of iron and zinc in
maintaining both physical and psychological health and wellbeing in women,"
said the study's senior author Dr Linda Byrne.
"However
there is still so much that we don't know in this field. There were very few
studies looking at zinc on its own for example, and we do not have enough information
to know if similar results can be seen through dietary change only. It is
important to replicate the findings of improved cognitive and mood outcomes
when iron levels are increased. If this
can successfully be done, it has important implications as a possible pathway
for preventing or slowing cognitive decline in old age."
Iron
deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies world-wide and women
are at particular risk of not having enough iron stores as they regularly lose
blood which contains iron, they experience pregnancy which increases iron needs
and are less likely to consume diets rich in readily available iron compared
with men. While it is estimated that between 10-20 per cent of adult women
experience low iron levels, less is known about women's zinc status.
A Deakin
research team led by C-PAN's Associate Professor Lynn
Riddell is currently investigating iron and zinc in Australian women. Through
the WIZE study (Women, Iron, Zinc and Energy) the researchers are looking more
closely at the relationship between women's iron and zinc concentrations, their
feelings of fatigue, depressive symptoms, mood and memory.
"Unfortunately
we know very little about women's zinc status as it is a tricky nutrient to
measure in the body," Associate Professor Riddell said.
"Through the
WIZE study we hope to be able to get a picture of the relationship between iron
and zinc status and mood, fatigue, depression and memory. We then aim to
develop sustainable dietary and lifestyle advice to help women maintain their
health and wellbeing through diets that support optimal iron and zinc nutrition."
People
interested in taking part in the WIZE study can contact Deakin University on wizestdy@deakin.edu.au or visit the Facebook
page http://facebook.com/wizestudy.