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Biomedical subjects

J G Penland

Publications and source records attributed to J G Penland.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Behavioral data and methodology issues in studies of zinc nutrition in humans.

Despite the widespread incidence of childhood zinc (Zn) deficiency and strong evidence that Zn deprivation during periods of rapid growth affect brain development and behavior in animals, there is little research on the behavioral effects of Zn deficiency in children or adults. A brief review of previous human studies is followed by more detailed discussion of recent studies of Chinese and Mexican-American children, which showed beneficial effects of Zn repletion on neuropsychologic function. Methodology issues are reviewed and recommendations are made to assess the following: 1) a broad range of cognitive, psychomotor, emotional and social factors; 2) performance in the presence of secondary stressors to approximate real-world conditions more accurately; 3) continuous activity and rest in older children by the use of electronic activity monitors; and 4) electrophysiologic measures of brain function. It is concluded that research on cognition, behavioral activity and brain electrophysiology as outcomes of Zn deficiency and response to improved Zn nutrition is critical, given that Zn deficiency is common in both developing and developed countries.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

History of zinc as related to brain function.

Zinc (Zn) is essential for synthesis of coenzymes that mediate biogenic-amine synthesis and metabolism. Zn from vesicles in presynaptic terminals of certain glutaminergic neurons modulates postsynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors for glutamate. Large amounts of Zn released from vesicles by seizures or ischemia can kill postsynaptic neurons. Acute Zn deficiency impairs brain function of experimental animals and humans. Zn deficiency in experimental animals during early brain development causes malformations, whereas deficiency later in brain development causes microscopic abnormalities and impairs subsequent function. A limited number of studies suggest that similar phenomena can occur in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Iron status and depression in premenopausal women: an MMPI study. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

To test the hypothesis that low iron status or other nutritional deficiencies are associated with symptoms of depression in premenopausal women, the authors related blood indices of iron status to scores on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and responses to a mood adjective checklist. Participants recruited locally provided fasting blood samples and completed the MMPI during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Of 365 apparently healthy participants, 4% had hemoglobin < 120 g/L, 6% had transferrin saturation < 16%, 20% had ferritin < 12 micrograms/L, and 8% had clinically elevated scores (T > or = 70) on the Depression scale of the MMPI. The frequency of elevated MMPI Depression scores was unrelated to the frequency of low hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, or ferritin. The results do not support the hypothesis that low iron status contributes to symptoms of depression in women.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The importance of boron nutrition for brain and psychological function.

Boron (B) nutriture has been related to bone, mineral and lipid metabolism, energy utilization, and immune function. As evidence accumulates that B is essential for humans, it is important to consider possible relationships between B nutriture and brain and psychological function. Five studies conducted in our laboratory are reviewed. Assessments of brain electrical activity in both animals and humans found that B deprivation results in decreased brain electrical activity similar to that observed in nonspecific malnutrition. Assessments of cognitive and psychomotor function in humans found that B deprivation results in poorer performance on tasks of motor speed and dexterity, attention, and short-term memory. However, little support was found for anecdotal reports that supplementation with physiologic amounts of B helps alleviate the somatic and psychological symptoms of menopause. Parallels between nutritional and toxicological effects of B on brain and psychological function are presented, and possible biological mechanisms for dietary effects are reviewed. Findings support the hypothesis that B nutriture is important for brain and psychological function in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effects of repletion with zinc and other micronutrients on neuropsychologic performance and growth of Chinese children.

The knowledge that zinc is essential for growth and neuropsychologic performance and a report of zinc-responsive stunting in Chinese children prompted this project. This article summarizes findings from a 10-wk, double-blind, controlled trial of zinc repletion in 740 urban, 6-9-y-old first graders from low-income families in Chongqing, Qingdao, and Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Treatments were 20 mg Zn alone (Z), 20 mg Zn with micronutrients (ZM), and micronutrients alone (M). The M mixture was based on National Research Council guidelines. Nutrients that might interfere with zinc retention were excluded or given in lower amounts. Main outcomes were changes in neuropsychologic performance and knee height. Hemoglobin, serum ferritin, plasma and hair zinc, and whole blood and hair lead were also measured. Anemia was not common, and serum ferritin concentrations were usually within the range of normal. Mean baseline plasma zinc concentrations were marginal in children from Chongqing and Qingdao and normal in children from Shanghai. After treatment with ZM or M plasma zinc increased. Hair zinc tended to decrease after all treatments. Mean baseline whole blood lead concentrations were slightly below the limit considered excessive for children by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Neuropsychologic performance and growth were most improved after treatment with ZM. These findings were consistent with the presence of zinc and other micronutrient deficiencies.

Brain↗
PubMed1997

A preliminary report: effects of zinc and micronutrient repletion on growth and neuropsychological function of urban Chinese children.

OBJECTIVE: Zinc is essential for growth and cognition of experimental animals. Past research found zinc repletion improved growth of stunted Chinese children. Therefore we measured effects of zinc repletion on growth and neuropsychological functions of children. DESIGN: Double-blind randomized controlled treatment trial. SETTING: Elementary schools in low income districts of Chongqing, Qingdao and Shanghai. SUBJECTS: Three hundred-seventy-two 6 to 9 year old first graders. INTERVENTIONS: Treatments were 20 mg zinc, 20 mg zinc with micronutrients, or micronutrients alone. The micronutrient mixture was based on guidelines of the US NAS/NRC. Treatments were assigned to classrooms of 40 or more children each, and administered by teachers 6 days per week for 10 weeks. MEASURES OF OUTCOME: Changes in knee height and neuropsychological functions. RESULTS: Zinc alone had the least effect on growth while zinc with micronutrients had the largest effect; micronutrients alone had an intermediate effect. Zinc-containing treatments improved neuropsychological functions, but micronutrients alone had little effect. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirm the essentiality of zinc for growth of children, and show, for the first time, the essentiality of zinc for neuropsychological functions of children. In addition, the need for repletion of other potentially limiting nutrients in studies examining the effects of specific nutrients on growth and neuropsychological functions was confirmed.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Functional changes appropriate for determining mineral element requirements.

One factor limiting efforts to determine human requirements for dietary intakes of mineral elements has been the unavailability of acceptable standards for evaluating the effects of marginal and mild deficiencies. Traditional approaches, such as growth, longevity, chemical balance and measurement of concentrations of minerals in plasma or serum and cellular components of the blood, have not been sensitive indicators of mineral nutriture. One alternative that has been shown to be responsive to graded dietary mineral intake is the evaluation of functional responses to specific challenges or stressors. Aberrant responses, either exaggerated or attenuated, to controlled stressors have been observed in a variety of physiological, psychological and immunological parameters when mineral intakes have been suboptimal by conventional standards, compared with adequate responses. In comparison to static biochemical approaches for assessment of mineral nutritional status, functional tests may be sensitive and responsive to alterations in mineral intake in adult humans. Dynamic functional measures complement static biochemical measures and reflect the net effect of deficiencies on integrated biological systems. The application of some of these types of dynamic evaluations of function may be a useful and productive approach for proposing mineral element intakes to optimize human health and biological function and performance.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Quantitative analysis of EEG effects following experimental marginal magnesium and boron deprivation.

Magnesium (115 and 315 mg/d) and boron (0.23 and 3.23 mg/d) were fed in a double-blind Latin squares design to 13 healthy postmenopausal women (aged 50-78 years) living on a metabolic unit. An eight-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded during the last week of each of four 6-week dietary periods. Power and coherence measures were determined for each of four EEG frequency bands: delta (1-3 Hz), theta (4-7 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), and beta (13-18 Hz). Compared to high dietary magnesium, the low magnesium intake increased total power in the frontal regions and right temporal and parietal regions and resulted in frequency-specific increases in left occipital delta power, theta power in all but the left temporal region, alpha power in the right frontal and right temporal regions, and beta power in the frontal regions. The proportion of theta to total power in the parietal regions also increased with the low magnesium intake. While magnesium effects were observed primarily during eyes-closed conditions, effects of dietary boron on EEG power were found only during eyes-open conditions. Relative to high dietary boron, the low boron intake increased delta power in the left parietal and left occipital regions, increased the proportion of delta to total power in the frontal regions, and decreased relative right frontal theta, right frontal alpha, and left frontal beta power. Additional magnesium and boron effects were evident in the measures of EEG coherence. Thus relatively short periods of marginal magnesium and boron deprivation can affect brain function in healthy older women. The findings extend previous qualitative observations of increased CNS activity following severe magnesium deprivation and deficiency to cases of experimentally induced marginal magnesium deficiency, and verify CNS hyperexcitability by quantitative analysis of the EEG.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Dietary boron, brain function, and cognitive performance.

Although the trace element boron has yet to be recognized as an essential nutrient for humans, recent data from animal and human studies suggest that boron may be important for mineral metabolism and membrane function. To investigate further the functional role of boron, brain electrophysiology and cognitive performance were assessed in response to dietary manipulation of boron (approximately 0.25 versus approximately 3.25 mg boron/2000 kcal/day) in three studies with healthy older men and women. Within-subject designs were used to assess functional responses in all studies. Spectral analysis of electroencephalographic data showed effects of dietary boron in two of the three studies. When the low boron intake was compared to the high intake, there was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the proportion of low-frequency activity, and a decrease in the proportion of higher-frequency activity, an effect often observed in response to general malnutrition and heavy metal toxicity. Performance (e.g., response time) on various cognitive and psychomotor tasks also showed an effect of dietary boron. When contrasted with the high boron intake, low dietary boron resulted in significantly poorer performance (p < 0.05) on tasks emphasizing manual dexterity (studies II and III); eye-hand coordination (study II); attention (all studies); perception (study III); encoding and short-term memory (all studies); and long-term memory (study I). Collectively, the data from these three studies indicate that boron may play a role in human brain function and cognitive performance, and provide additional evidence that boron is an essential nutrient for humans.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Dietary calcium and manganese effects on menstrual cycle symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: This exploratory study was designed to determine whether dietary calcium and manganese affect menstrual symptoms in healthy women. STUDY DESIGN: Ten women with normal menstrual cycles completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire each cycle during a 169-day, live-in metabolic study of calcium and manganese nutrition. Women were assigned in a double-blind, Latin-square manner to each of four 39-day dietary periods: 587 or 1336 mg calcium per day with 1.0 or 5.6 mg manganese per day. Responses were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Increasing calcium intake reduced mood, concentration, and behavior symptoms generally (p < or = 0.05), reduced pain during the menstrual phase of the cycle (p = 0.034), and reduced water retention during the premenstrual phase (p = 0.041). In spite of increasing calcium intake, lower dietary manganese increased mood and pain symptoms during the premenstrual phase (p < or = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dietary calcium and manganese may have a functional role in the manifestation of symptomatology typically associated with menstrual distress.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Nutrition status and brain function in aging.

Biochemical indices of nutrition status assessed in 28 healthy persons aged greater than 60 y were related to cognitive performance and electroencephalographic (EEG) indices of neuropsychological function. Performance data were most frequently related to indices of nutrition status when tasks were demanding. Numerous correlations were also found between EEG indices and indices of thiamin, riboflavin, and iron nutriture. Certain observations, such as a decrement in alpha-wave activity in the EEG of subjects with low thiamin status, suggest that subtle neuropsychological impairment can occur in association with mild deficits in nutrition status. Other findings indicate that EEG frequency responses of older subjects with high iron status are similar to those of younger persons; however, these data are more difficult to interpret. The results suggest that further research on nutrition and neuropsychological function will lead to a better understanding of the role of nutrition in maintaining the functional integrity of the aging brain.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Regional changes in EEG power and coherence during cognition: intensive study of two individuals.

Two men underwent weekly electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings while living for several months in a controlled laboratory environment. Data collected from an eight-channel EEG during a resting period and during performance of two cognitive tasks (word fluency and mental imagery) were subjected to spectral analysis. Statistical analyses on power and coherence were conducted for each subject separately, to determine whether that individual showed a characteristic pattern of EEG activity for a given cognitive task which was stable over time. Although substantial individual differences were observed, particularly for the theta band, both subjects showed changes in the spectral information over the anterior left hemisphere during the word fluency task.

Cerebral Cortex↗
PubMed1984

Iron status and brain function: serum ferritin levels associated with asymmetries of cortical electrophysiology and cognitive performance.

Levels of serum ferritin and iron were examined in relation to cognitive performance and quantitative EEG measures in 69 normal university students. Higher levels of serum ferritin were associated with greater activation of the left hemisphere relative to the right, indicated by less power in the EEG spectra from left hemisphere electrodes. Iron status was significantly related to cognitive performance on two of the cognitive tasks, and these relationships were consistent with the EEG asymmetries: higher ferritin predicted greater verbal fluency but poorer nonverbal auditory task performance. These results suggest that body iron stores are relevant to specific neurophysiological processes supporting attention.

Cognition↗
PubMed1982

Longitudinal study of brain function and depletion of iron stores in individual subjects.

Seven men living in a controlled research unit showed decrements in iron stores due to repeated phlebotomy. For each subject, weekly measures of cognitive task performance, electroencephalographic (EEG) power and Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) were examined in relation to serum ferritin level. No reliable relationships of ferritin level to cognitive performance ability were observed. Some EEG findings appeared similar to previous observations on EEG data and iron status in cross-sectional research. For four of the seven subjects, asymmetries of EEG power in the occipital electrodes appeared related to the decline in iron status over time.

Adult↗