- The ARC - California Edition -

Iron Deficiency

Children who are deficient in the mineral iron during infancy are at high risk of having long term behavioral and development outcomes, according to a report published in the April 2000 issue of the electronics version of Pediatrics. 

Ten years ago, when these children were infants, they had been identified as having severe, chronic iron deficiency. Even though they had been provided treatment for the condition at that time, they are now being found to score significantly lower than controls on measures of mental and motor functioning. 

The subject of this study involved comparing the results of a comprehensive set of tests that had been designed to determine differences in behavior and development. 

The test results of 48 children (previously classified as being deficient in iron during infancy) were compared to the test data from a control group of 114 children (previously classified as having “good iron status” during their infancy). 

The differences found were mainly in arithmetic achievement and written expression, motor functioning, and certain cognitive processing. 

Parents and teachers were used to rate the groups on behavior and reported more problems with the members of the iron deficient group. 

“More of the formerly iron-deficient children had repeated a grade and/or been referred for special services or tutoring,” according to Dr. Betsy Lozoff, team leader for the research.

Doctor Lozoff, and her team of researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, also reported that they found changes in behavior and development consistent with follow up studies conducted by other previous researchers. 

“All studies found lower mental test scores, and most reported lower motor scores as well”, according to Lozoff’s comments about earlier studies. 

In the human body, iron is present in all cells and has several vital functions. It is known to be a carrier of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues; it facilitates oxygen use in the muscles; it is a transport medium for electrons within the cells; and it is an integral part of enzyme reactions in various tissues. Too little iron can interfere with these vital functions, and in severe cases can lead to death or permanent damage.

Worldwide, the deficiency of the nutrient Iron in infancy is very common and currently is estimated to be found in approximately 20 to 25% of all infants. 

This anemic condition results in lower levels of the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin being found in the blood of the child. 

In the United States, the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia among children declined during the 1970s. Latino and black infants (especially those in families classified as being poor) remain at highest risk. 

(Poorer Behavioral and Developmental Outcome More Than 10 Years After Treatment for Iron Deficiency in Infancy; Betsy Lozoff, MD et al; Pediatrics, Volume 105, Issue 4, April 2000)