| Your child's brain is like an elaborate stage production | | | | multivitamin supplement saw their non-verbal IQ scores |
| that needs hundreds of people working behind the | | | | increase by more than ten points! Since the original |
| curtain to provide the supporting framework for the | | | | studies, further research has been conducted using |
| main actors. The difference is that the brain utilizes | | | | lower, RDA levels of vitamins and minerals. These |
| vitamins and minerals as its supporting cast instead of | | | | levels, while far lower than those used in the initial |
| lighting technicians and prop masters. | | | | study, still increased IQs by an average of nearly five |
| Vitamins and minerals are the architects of the brain, | | | | points. |
| creating and re-creating the brain and nervous system. | | | | Giving your child the best nutrition from the very |
| They grease the wheels of brain function by | | | | beginning of his or her life can reap endless benefits. |
| performing the basic work of transformation in the | | | | Just in case you?re skeptical of the impact vitamins |
| brain, making neurotransmitters from amino acids, | | | | and minerals can have early on, a 16-year study by the |
| energy from glucose, complex fats (GLA or DHA) | | | | Medical Research Council should put your doubts to |
| from simple fats, and phospholipids from choline and | | | | rest. Four hundred twenty four premature babies were |
| serine. | | | | fed with either an average milk formula or a formula |
| In the early 1980s, Gwillym Roberts, a teacher and | | | | supplemented with additional vitamins, minerals and |
| nutritional therapist from the Institute for Optimum | | | | protein. At 18 months of age, the babies who had been |
| Nutrition, and Professor David Benton, a psychologist | | | | fed the enriched formula were doing considerably |
| from Swansea University, developed a study to chart | | | | better than those who had been given the average |
| the effect of vitamins and minerals on the intelligence | | | | milk, and at eight years of age, the children who had |
| levels of schoolchildren. Thirty children were given a | | | | taken the enriched formula had IQs up to 14 points |
| specially designed multivitamin and mineral supplement | | | | higher! |
| containing a high level of crucial nutrients. Thirty children | | | | So, why do IQ scores increase with vitamin and |
| were given a placebo. | | | | mineral consumption? One possible explanation is that |
| The research results were published in a 1988 edition | | | | children think more quickly and focus their attention for |
| of The Lancet. After eight months in the study, no | | | | longer periods of time when they ingest essential levels |
| differences were noted in the children who were | | | | of nutrients. |
| taking the placebos, while those consuming the | | | | |