Reversal of developmental delays in iron-deficient anaemic infants treated with iron.
Iron-deficient anaemic infants perform worse in tests of mental and motor development than do iron-sufficient infants of a comparable age. A randomised, double-blind trial was done to monitor the effects of iron supplementation on performance in the Bayley scales of mental and motor development among 12-18-month-old infants in Indonesia. Iron-deficient anaemic infants (n = 50) were assigned randomly to receive dietary ferrous sulphate or placebo for 4 month. Similar treatment randomisation was done among nonanaemic iron-deficient (n = 29) and iron-sufficient (n = 47) infants. Before intervention, the mean mental and motor scores of the iron-deficient anaemic infants were significantly (p < 0.01) lower than those of the nonanaemic iron-deficient and iron-sufficient classes. After intervention, developmental delays were reversed among iron-deficient anaemic infants who had received iron but they remained the same among placebo-treated iron-deficient anaemic infants. Neither ferrous sulphate nor placebo had significant effects on the scores of the other two iron-status classes. The poor performance of 12-18-month-old iron-deficient anaemic infants in the Bayley scales of mental and motor development can be improved to the level of performance of iron-sufficient infants by treatment with ferrous sulphate.
Idjradinata
P
P
Department of Child Health, Medical Faculty, Padjadjaran University, Bandung, Indonesia.
Pollitt
E
E
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D005293:Ferritins