There is no convincing evidence that iron treatment of young children with IDA has an effect on psychomotor development or cognitive function within 30 days after commencement of therapy .
The effect of longer-term treatment remains unclear .
BACKGROUND Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia ( IDA ) are common in young children .
It has been suggested that the lack of iron may have deleterious effects on children 's psychomotor development and cognitive function .
To evaluate the benefits of iron therapy on psychomotor development and cognitive function in children with IDA , a Cochrane review was carried out in 2001 .
This is an up date of that review .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of iron therapy on psychomotor development and cognitive function in iron deficient anaemic children less than three years of age .
Treatment with iron increases weight gain and psychomotor development.
Previous work at this hospital and elsewhere has shown that anaemia in toddlers is common and is associated with psychomotor delay . It seemed unclear , however , whether this association was cause and effect or merely due to the same underprivileged environment . A double blind r and omised intervention study was , therefore , performed . After an initial assessment 97 children with anaemia ( haemoglobin 8 - 11 g/dl ) aged 17 - 19 months received either iron and vitamin C or vitamin C only ( control group ) for two months and were then reassessed . The children who received the iron had an increased rate of weight gain and more of them achieved the expected rate of development . While iron deficiency anaemia is unlikely to be the only factor in the slower development of children living in underprivileged circumstances , it can at least be easily identified and treated . Routine child health surveillance in such areas should include a haemoglobin determination
There is no convincing evidence that iron treatment of young children with IDA has an effect on psychomotor development or cognitive function within 30 days after commencement of therapy .
The effect of longer-term treatment remains unclear .
BACKGROUND Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia ( IDA ) are common in young children .
It has been suggested that the lack of iron may have deleterious effects on children 's psychomotor development and cognitive function .
To evaluate the benefits of iron therapy on psychomotor development and cognitive function in children with IDA , a Cochrane review was carried out in 2001 .
This is an up date of that review .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of iron therapy on psychomotor development and cognitive function in iron deficient anaemic children less than three years of age .