Iron and Zinc May Improve Memory and Mood in Women
Iron and Zinc May Improve Memory and Mood in Women – Deakin University researchers think that this might be the answer to cognitive decline in old age.
Researchers with Deakin’s School of Psychology and Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research (C-PAN) reviewed studies on positive effects of iron and zinc intake on mood and memory in women. The participants were between 12 and 55 years old. They found that increasing iron intake by giving the women supplements improved their memory and intellectual ability while zinc supplements reduced symptoms of depression in those who already had depression or low levels of zinc.
The study’s senior author Dr Linda Byrne said that iron and zinc seemed to play an important role in mental and psychological health, and iron in particular was an important nutrient for women as they lose blood on a regular basis via their monthly cycle.
Researchers say that while it’s easy to determine iron deficiency, measuring zinc in the body is more tricky. The Deakin research team is currently studying iron and zinc levels in Australian women and the link to fatigue, depressive symptoms, mood and memory.
Category: News
