Association between iron status and neurodevelopmental outcomes among VLBW infants.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate iron status and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with and without extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR).


METHODS
This observational study evaluated 38 medically stable premature infants, with birth weights below 1500g. Iron status was determined by measuring venous levels of Hb, Fe, and serum ferritin. The infants were divided into EUGR and non-EUGR groups. At a corrected age of 18months, neurodevelopmental outcomes were checked using the Bayley scales, and body weight, body length, and head circumference were measured.


RESULTS
Hb levels at corrected ages of 1 and 3months and iron at a corrected age of 1 and 9months were significantly lower in the EUGR group compared with those of the non-EUGR group. There was no significant difference in the MDI score between the groups, but the PDI score at a corrected age of 18months was significantly lower in the EUGR group. We found a positive correlation between the serum level of Fe at 1month of age and PDI score at 18months of age. Head circumference at a corrected age of 18months did not differ between two groups, although body weight and length were lower in the EUGR group.


CONCLUSIONS
Developmental outcome in preterm infants at a corrected age of 18months may be influenced by nutritional factors, including iron status, during their early life.
Kon
Noriko
N
Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Tanaka
Kyoko
K
Sekigawa
Mariko
M
Negishi
Yoshie
Y
Yoshikawa
Naomi
N
Hisata
Ken
K
Shoji
Hiromichi
H
Shimizu
Toshiaki
T
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000378:metabolism; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D008297:Male; D009420:Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development*; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron