SYMPOSIA

Dev Disord. 2011 Article in press.
Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Vol: 21, Supplement: 2, 2011 - www.psikofarmakoloji.org
Abstracts of the Invited Speakers
9. Emond A, Emmett P, Steer C, Golding J. Feeding Symptoms, Dietary Patterns, and Growth in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders Pediatrics 2010;
126:337-342.
Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology 2011;21(Suppl. 2):S72-3
Zinc supplementation in psychiatric disorders of children
Sadriye Ebru Çengel Kültür
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
E-mail: ebru.kultur@gmail.com;ecengel@softhome.net
Micronutrient supplementation is considered as a useful intervention in many cases. Zinc is one of these micronutrients and an essential cofactor
for over 100 enzymes, both metalloenzymes and metal-enzyme complexes that are required in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fatty acids,
proteins and nucleic acids. Zinc is considered as an essential element in neuronal development, synaptogenesis and synaptic transmission.
In experimental animal studies, zinc deficiency during early brain development is mainly related with malformations. In humans,
neuropsychological and neurobehavioral effects of zinc deficiency are largely studied in severely zinc deficient groups or cases exposed to
deficiency during early developmental stages. In addition zinc supplementation studies mainly occur in the gestational period or infancy
and use zinc doses higher than the protective dosage. Limited numbers of interventional trials have been performed to demonstrate
the effects of zinc supplementation on behavioral, cognitive and neuropsychological functioning in school-aged children. Some of these
studies showed no significant effects on average attention span and short-term memory. On the other hand some found improvement
in neuropsychological performance and decrease in the number of children with clinically significant parents’ scores for attention deficit
and hyperactivity. When searched for internalizing symptoms, no significant effect was revealed in parent-teacher rated scales.
In clinical cases with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism low serum zinc levels were reported. Zinc supplementation
studies in ADHD cases showed significant improvement reported in parents’ and teachers’ ratings of hyperactivity, impulsivity and
socialization scores. Furthermore, one study found that improvement was mainly in parent-teacher-rated inattentive symptoms in ADHD
cases. In a placebo controlled study, zinc supplementation in addition to ADHD treatment revealed a 37% reduction in d-amphetamine
dose compared to placebo, though no significant superiority of zinc supplementation for ADHD symptoms was observed.
In conclusion, zinc supplementation studies suggest a special relationship to ADHD diagnosis. However it is not possible to establish
either an etiological relation or an alternative treatment approach in ADHD.
Key words: Zinc supplementation, ADHD
Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology 2011;21(Suppl. 2):S73
The impacts of iron deficiency on mental health in childhood
Ayhan Bilgiç
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
E-mail: bilgicayhan@yahoo.com
Numerous studies have found associations between iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and poor cognitive and motor
development in infancy and early childhood. In addition, it has been reported that there are associations between ID/IDA and some
childhood neuropsychiatric disorders including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorders, autism spectrum disorders,
restless leg syndrome, sleep disturbance and Tourette’s syndrome. Iron is required for proper function of some enzymes that are engaged
in the myelinization process and in monoamine neurotransmitter synthesis. Therefore, it has been considered that these negative effects
of ID and IDA are related to the vital roles of iron in the brain. Thus, authors have suggested that the presence of ID without anemia is
sufficient for occurrence of functional disturbances, although exceptions exist. There are studies which considered that, especially early
in life, the negative impacts of ID on psychomotor and neurological development do not seem to be reversible by iron supplementation
and ID may cause permanent hazards in the brain. However, some studies have reported that iron supplementation resolved the effects
of ID including cognitive and motor development problems in children and the development of psychiatric disorders. Despite there being
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