The effect of iron supplementation on visual-evoked potentials in infants with iron-deficiency anemia.
Flash visual-evoked potentials were studied in 20 infants with iron-deficiency anemia to determine the effect of iron deficiency on visual function by using visual-evoked potentials in this type of anemia. After iron therapy for 12 weeks, visual-evoked potentials were retested in these otherwise healthy infants. All infants showed an excellent hematological response to iron therapy. Post-treatment visual-evoked potential N2 latencies (negative deflections) decreased significantly compared to the pre-treatment values (p < 0.05). These results suggest that iron-deficiency anemia causes subclinical visual impairment, and visual-evoked potentials may be a useful non-invasive means of detecting subtle effects of nutritional deficiencies and monitoring the nutritional status of infants.
Sarici
S U
SU
Department of Pediatrics, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. susarici@hotmail.com
Okutan
V
V
Dündaröz
M R
MR
Serdar
A M
AM
Akin
R
R
Deda
G
G
Gökçay
E
E
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D014421:Turkey; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000187:drug effects
D007501:Iron