Iron deficiency and educational achievement in Thailand.
This double-blind clinical trial was conducted in Thailand to assess the impact of iron treatment on the IQ and educational attainment of 1358 9-11-y-old children. The children were classified into one of three groups: iron replete, iron depleted, and iron-deficient anemic. The Raven Progressive Matrices was used to measure IQ. A Thai language and a math test were administered to assess school attainment. A 50-mg/d tablet of ferrous sulphate was given for 2 wk and a 100 mg/d tablet, for 14 wk. An anthelminthic drug was given on the day of the blood test before treatment and 3 mo after the intervention started. There is evidence of a positive association between iron status and IQ and a language school achievement test but there is no support for the internal validity of the hypothesis that this association is causal.
Department of Applied Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis 95616.
E
E
Pollitt
P
P
Hathirat
N J
NJ
Kotchabhakdi
L
L
Missell
A
A
Valyasevi
D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002648:Child; D004911:Erythrocyte Volume; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis; D005293:Ferritins / Q000032:analysis; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006400:Hematocrit; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000175:diagnosis; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000097:blood; D013785:Thailand; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
D000871:Anthelmintics; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011524:Protoporphyrins; D014168:Transferrin; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D005293:Ferritins