Impact of iron supplementation on cognitive functions in preschool and school-aged children: the Indian experience.
Four studies examined impacts of iron supplementation on school children of various ages and both sexes. The first study investigated impact of iron-folic acid supplements for 60 d on cognition in 94 boys and girls aged 5-8 y. Improvement in total scores of the anemics was significantly higher than the nonanemics in 7-8-y-old children only. The second study assessed impacts of supplementation on cognition in 14 pairs of 5-6-y-old anemic boys, with clear beneficial effects on cognitive function. The third study investigated effects of varying dosages of elemental iron on cognitive function in 48 boys aged 8-15 y, with different levels of improvement. The fourth study investigated impacts of iron supplementation on 163 anemic girls aged 8-15 y with treatment and evaluations at 4 and 8 mo, with significantly improved scores in cognitive function after the eighth month.
Seshadri
S
S
Department of Foods and Nutrition, MS University of Baroda, Gujarat, India.
Gopaldas
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007360:Intelligence; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male
D006454:Hemoglobins; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron