Limited evidence suggested that iron supplementation produced a small improvement in cognitive development but had no effect on physical growth .
CONCLUSIONS : In 2 to 5 year olds , daily iron supplementation increases hemoglobin and ferritin .
There is a concerning lack of data on the effect of iron supplementation on clinical ly important outcomes including anemia , ID anemia , ID , and cognitive development .
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES : Iron deficiency ( ID ) is the most common cause of anemia worldwide .
The prevalence is highest among preschool-aged children .
Iron is widely administered to children with or at risk for ID , but evidence of benefit among 2- to 5-year-old children has not been evaluated by systematic review .
We summarize the evidence for the benefit and safety of daily iron supplementation with regard to hematologic , growth , and cognitive parameters in 2 to 5 year olds .
The effect of iron deficiency and mental stimulation on Indonesian children's cognitive performance and development.
Three studies conducted in Indonesia will be described . Soewondo ( 12 ) investigated the relation of iron deficiency and cognitive function and impact of iron supplementation on verbal intelligence , attention and concept learning among iron deficient children without anemia and iron deficient anemic children . Half of 176 children , aged 3 - 6 years , received elemental Fe for 8 weeks and the other half received  placebo . There were significant changes from pre to post intervention evaluations in ferritin , transferrin saturation , free erythrocyte protoporphyrin , and hemoglobin in the iron deficient anemic children . Pre and post treatment psychological test data showed that iron deficiency anemia produced alterations in cognitive processes related to visual attention and concept acquisition . These alterations can be reversed with iron treatment . Idjradinata ( 4 ) assessed the impact of iron supplementation on iron deficient infant 's mental and psychomotor development . Hundred twenty six subjects aged 12 to 18 month were r and omly assigned to either iron treatment or placebo intervention . After 4 months of iron supplementation , the hemoglobin , ferritin and transferrin saturation changed significantly in the iron deficient infants . A developmental delay was observed in the iron deficient anemic infants before intervention and the conditions were reversed after 4 months of iron treatment . Soemiarti ( 8) examined the effectiveness of a  training course  given to mothers of children aged 12 to 24 month on the rearing environment and consequently to the child 's development .  The subjects were 69 mothers of 20 - 35 years old . The training lasted for 21 days by giving mothers training using the program " Ibu Maju Anak Bermutu " . The rearing environment improved , also the child 's mental and psychomotor development
Limited evidence suggested that iron supplementation produced a small improvement in cognitive development but had no effect on physical growth .
CONCLUSIONS : In 2 to 5 year olds , daily iron supplementation increases hemoglobin and ferritin .
There is a concerning lack of data on the effect of iron supplementation on clinical ly important outcomes including anemia , ID anemia , ID , and cognitive development .
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES : Iron deficiency ( ID ) is the most common cause of anemia worldwide .
The prevalence is highest among preschool-aged children .
Iron is widely administered to children with or at risk for ID , but evidence of benefit among 2- to 5-year-old children has not been evaluated by systematic review .
We summarize the evidence for the benefit and safety of daily iron supplementation with regard to hematologic , growth , and cognitive parameters in 2 to 5 year olds .