ABSTRACT
A large body of research suggests that an inadequate dietary supply during development of any of a number of essential micronutrients may adversely affect brain function. Some studies also suggest positive effects of multivitamin and mineral supplementation during development on cognitive function. However, this enormous body of research has, in general, not been systematically evaluated to determine whether evidence is sufcient to support causal inferences. A causal relationship between micronutrient deciencies and suboptimal brain function would have major public health implications, as large segments of the world (including the U.S.) population, particularly the poor, are known to be undernourished for a number of micronutrients. If such a relationship exists, a major effort to address micronutrient undernutrition as an adjunct to the various programs underway to improve dietary habits, particularly of the poor, will be well justied [5-7].
