Effects of Iron and/or Zinc Supplementation in Mexican School Children Exposed to Lead

Lead is negatively linked to nutritional status, behavior and cognition in children. Despite extensive knowledge of its toxicity and efforts to reduce exposure, lead continues to be a problem in developed and developing countries. When lead exposure is unavoidable due to its pervasive nature, effective means of protecting or disrupting that exposure need to be developed. Nutritional interventions are one such option. We conducted a 2x2 factorial, placebo-controlled trial of 6-month iron and zinc supplementation among lead-exposed children in Torreón, Mexico (altitude 1060 m). Nine schools were selected based on proximity to a lead smelter and first-graders were individually randomized to daily treatment with 30 mg iron, 30 mg zinc, both, or placebo. In addition to biochemical indicators, cognitive functions and behavior were evaluated at baseline, after the 6-month supplementation period, and again after another 6 months (without supplementation). At baseline, 602 children ages 6.2-8.5 years were enrolled.