Overall , the studies suggest a modest positive effect of iron supplementation on cognition and psychomotor outcomes in anemic infants and children after supplementation periods of at least 2 months of duration
A systematic review was conducted to summarize the evidence currently available from r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) concerning the effect of iron intake of infants , children and adolescents on measures of cognitive development and function .
The effects of short-term oral iron therapy on developmental deficits in iron-deficient anemic infants.
To assess the effects of iron therapy on developmental test scores in infants with iron deficiency anemia , 68 Guatemalan babies 6 to 24 months of age , with and without mild iron deficiency anemia , were tested with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development before and after one week of oral iron treatment . The two major findings of the study were developmental deficits in the anemic group prior to treatment , and lack of rapid improvement with short-term oral iron therapy . The mean pretreatment Mental Development Index of the anemic group was significantly lower than that of nonanemic infants . The anemic group 's pretreatment Psychomotor Development Index was also lower than that of the nonanemic control group . In a double-blind r and omized study , six to eight days of oral iron therapy did not reverse these deficits . Consequently , the deficits of the anemic group can not be unequivocably attributed to iron lack . However , no significant differences were found between anemic and nonanemic groups in birth histories , socioeconomic level , or general nutritional status which might otherwise explain the lower developmental test scores of the anemic babies
Overall , the studies suggest a modest positive effect of iron supplementation on cognition and psychomotor outcomes in anemic infants and children after supplementation periods of at least 2 months of duration
A systematic review was conducted to summarize the evidence currently available from r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) concerning the effect of iron intake of infants , children and adolescents on measures of cognitive development and function .