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 .
Effects of iron deficiency on attention and learning processes in preschool children: Bandung, Indonesia.
A double-blind clinical trial was conducted in Indonesia to assess effects of iron supplementation on performance of iron-depleted and iron-deficient anemic children in discrimination and oddity learning tasks . Half these children received elemental Fe for 8 wk ; the others received a placebo . There were significant changes from pre- to postintervention evaluations in ferritin , transferrin saturation , free erythrocyte protoporphyrin , and hemoglobin among the anemic and iron-depleted children ; no changes were observed among the placebos or any of the iron-replete children . The magnitude of hematological changes in anemic children treated with iron was small ; yet , after treatment the children 's mean ferritin , transferrin saturation , and hemoglobin values were above the cutoff points used for the definition of iron-deficiency anemia ( IDA ) . Pre- and posttreatment psychological test data show that IDA produces alterations in cognitive processes related to visual attention and concept acquisition , alterations reversed with iron treatment
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 .