The effects of iron deficiency on infants' developmental test performance.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of iron deficiency on developmental test scores in infants.


METHODS
This prospective, single-blind, controlled clinical intervention study was made on 108 children aged 6-30 mo who applied to our paediatric outpatient clinic. The cases were classified as control (n = 31, haemoglobin > or = 11 g/dl, serum ferritin > 12 microg/l, MCV > or = 70 fl), non-anaemic iron deficiency (NAID, n = 40, haemoglobin > or = 11 g/dl, serum ferritin < or = 12 microg/l, MCV > or = 70 fl) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA, n = 37, haemoglobin < 11 g/dl, ferritin < or = 12 microg/l, MCV < 70 fl) due to their anaemia status. In each group, MCV, haemoglobin and ferritin levels were measured, and Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) and Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-I) were administered before and after a 3-mo follow-up. IDA and about half of the NAID subjects were treated with oral iron for 3 mo.


RESULTS
Subjects with iron deficiency showed significantly lower developmental test scores both with BSID-I and DDST-II compared to their iron-sufficient peers (p < 0.05). After 3 mo of iron treatment, lower mental developmental test scores were no longer observed among the IDA and NAID groups whose anaemia and iron deficiency were also corrected. No significant differences were found between control NAID and control IDA groups on DGTT-II results after treatment. The difference in motor and mental developmental scores did not appear to depend on environmental and family factors considered in the analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the conclusions that iron deficiency may cause lower mental and motor test scores in infants and these adverse effects can be improved by iron therapy.
Akman
M
M
Department of Family Medicine, Marmara University, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. makman4@hotmail.com
Cebeci
D
D
Okur
V
V
Angin
H
H
Abali
O
O
Akman
A C
AC
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins