Iron deficiency and brain development.
Iron deficiency (ID) is common in pregnant women and infants worldwide. Rodent models show that ID during gestation/lactation alters neurometabolism, neurotransmitters, myelination, and gene/protein profiles before and after iron repletion at weaning. Human infants with iron deficiency anemia test lower in cognitive, motor, social-emotional, and neurophysiologic development than comparison group infants. Iron therapy does not consistently improve developmental outcome, with long-term differences observed. Poorer outcome has also been shown in human and monkey infants with fetal/neonatal ID. Recent randomized trials of infant iron supplementation show benefits, indicating that adverse effects can be prevented and/or reversed with iron earlier in development or before ID becomes severe or chronic. This body of research emphasizes the importance of protecting the developing brain from ID.
Lozoff
Betsy
B
Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0406, USA. blozoff@umich.edu
Georgieff
Michael K
MK
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats