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.
Pollitt
E
E
Department of Applied Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis 95616.
Hathirat
P
P
Kotchabhakdi
N J
NJ
Missell
L
L
Valyasevi
A
A
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