Impact of iron-folic acid supplementation on cognitive abilities of school girls in Vadodara.
OBJECTIVE
To assess impact of daily and intermittent iron-folate (IFA) supplementation on cognition of underprivileged primary schoolgirls in Vadodara.


METHODS
Experimental-control longitudinal study.


METHODS
Municipal primary schools.


METHODS
Schoolgirls (n=161) in the age group of 9 - 13 years.


METHODS
Participants at three randomly selected schools were given IFA tablets (100 mg elemental iron + 0.5 mg folic acid) either once weekly or twice weekly or daily for one year. The fourth was the control school.


METHODS
Digit span, maze test, visual memory test, and clerical task scores.


RESULTS
IFA supplementation given daily and twice-weekly significantly improved cognition in most tests; the effect was not seen in once-weekly or control groups. In daily and twice weekly IFA groups, positive change in cognition test scores was relatively higher in girls with good compliance(< 70 % dose) vs. poor compliance; in anemic (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL) vs non-anemic girls and in those with higher hemoglobin (Hb) gain (< 1g/dL) vs. lower Hb gain.


CONCLUSIONS
Twice weekly IFA supplementation is comparable to daily IFA in terms of beneficial effects on cognition in young adolescent girls.
Sen
Aditi
A
Department of Foods and Nutrition, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India.
Kanani
Shubhada J
SJ
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India
D006397:Hematinics; D005492:Folic Acid