Effect of Iron-Deficiency on Cognitive Skills and Neuromaturation in Infancy and Childhood

Abstract

Background: Although, the literature is abundant on the adverse effects of micronutrient deficiencies on neurocognitive performance, iron deficiency is a major public health problem worldwide because it continues to be the single most common nutritional deficiency and the main cause of anaemia in infancy and childhood. Nutritional anemia occurs when body reserves for a specific nutrient are inadequate for the synthesis of hemoglobin. This deficiency is due to inadequate iron intake and poor bioavailability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 2 billion people in the world today are estimated to be deficient in iron deficiency. Objectives: Rates of the highest prevalences in the developing world were found among pregnant women with 56% of school children followed directly 53%. The distribution of iron in the brain is very heterogeneous, a characteristic of the species in which the concentrations were determined. The highest concentrations are localised in the nucleus accumbens, the substantia nigra (nigra), the nucleolus cerebellar deep red nucleus and some portions of the hippocampus. These distributions occur at an advanced age especially when all the neuro-developmental activity is performed. Results: Iron supplementation improves mental development scores of anemic children. These results are amplified by psychosocial stimulation at home or in specialized centers. In sectoriel studies that our team has made in the region of Kenitra with populations of school children, the results are unanimous on the correlation between martial status and school performance and/or overall intelligence score determined by Raven's Progressive Matrices when socioeconomic variables are controlled. Conclusion: A comprehensive study using evoked potentials is desirable to confirm the relationship between iron deficiency neuro-cognitive development.

Anemia prevalence and its predictors among children under-five years in Ghana. A multilevel analysis of the 2019 Ghana malaria indicator survey

“…Majority of the children (88.8%) had no fever in the two-weeks prior to survey interview whilst 7.5% had fever with malaria positive test. Young mothers (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29) were more (44.6%) than mothers in other age groups with about 27.5% of the women having between 4 to 5 children. However only 5.2% of the mothers had attained higher educational status and 54.2% cannot read at all.…”

“…Anemia may be cause by vitamin de ciency, iron de ciency, sickle cell anemia, haemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia or anemia of chronic disease [18,19]. Anemia during pregnancy has both maternal and foetal consequences of which a newly born may suffer from reduced iron store problem from birth up to infancy and the demand for iron during the period of rapid growth [2,9,20,21]. Also, during pregnancy and lactation there is an increasing need for iron, vitamins and minerals by these groups of women, the lack of it makes them and children under-ve years the most vulnerable to anemia [21][22][23].…”

Anemia prevalence and its predictors among children under‐five years in Ghana. A multilevel analysis of the cross‐sectional 2019 Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey

“… 18 , 19 Anemia during pregnancy has both maternal and fetal consequences of which a newly born may suffer from reduced iron store problem from birth up to infancy and the demand for iron during the period of rapid growth. 2 , 9 , 20 , 21 Also, during pregnancy and lactation there is an increasing need for iron, vitamins, and minerals by these groups of women, the lack of it makes them and children under‐5 years the most vulnerable to anemia. 21 , 22 , 23 …”

Impact of Umbilical Cord Milking and Delayed Cord Clamping on Hematological Parameters in Term Neonates: A Case Control Study

“…3 The lifelong irreversible effects of iron deficiency anemia during infancy highlight the notion that preventing iron deficiency anemia is better than treating it especially during infancy and early childhood. 4 Iron reserve at birth determines the iron status during infancy and early childhood. Hence, any interventions that enhance the total body’s iron stores at birth are important.…”