Iron-deficiency anemia is associated with altered characteristics of sleep spindles in NREM sleep in infancy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of iron-deficiency anemia on the development of non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep stages, as indexed by sleep spindles.


METHODS
Patterns of sleep spindles during NREM sleep stages 2 and 3-4 (slow-wave-sleep, SWS) were compared in 26 otherwise healthy 6-month-old Chilean infants with iron-deficiency anemia and 18 non-anemic control infants. From polygraphic recordings, EEG activity was analyzed for sleep spindles to assess their number (density), duration, frequency, and inter-spindle interval.


RESULTS
Iron-deficient anemic infants differed from the control group by having sleep spindles with reduced density, lower frequency, and longer inter-spindle intervals in NREM sleep stage 2 and SWS.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide evidence of delayed sleep spindle patterns in iron-deficient anemic infants, suggesting that iron is an essential micronutrient for the normal progression of NREM sleep pattern development in the human.
Peirano
Patricio
P
Sleep and Functional Neurobiology Laboratory, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Av. JP Alessandri 5540, Santiago, 11, Chile. ppeirano@inta.cl
Algarín
Cecilia
C
Garrido
Marcelo
M
Algarín
Diógenes
D
Lozoff
Betsy
B
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*
D006454:Hemoglobins