Neurological development and iron supplementation in healthy late-preterm neonates: a randomized double-blind controlled trial

Abstract

Late-preterm infants (LPT) are at increased risk for long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae and iron deficiency. The aim of the study is to assess the positive effect of iron supplementation on psychomotor development in healthy LPT. We designed a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial dividing the newborns into two groups. Every patient was assessed using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales (GMDS)-II edition at 12-month post-conceptional age. The study was performed at the Neonatology Unit of our Hospital, in Italy. Sixty-six healthy LPT infants born between 340⁄7 and 366⁄7 weeks of gestational age were enrolled in the study. One group received martial prophylaxis from the third week of life to 6 months of post-conceptional age (2 mg/kg/day of iron pidolate), the other received placebo. Fifty-two of the enrolled infants were assessed using the GMDS at 12-month of post-conceptional age. Statistical analysis of the mean scores of the Griffiths subscales was performed. There was a difference in the mean developmental quotient (DQ) (p < 0.01) between the two groups: iron group mean DQ 121.45 ± 10.53 vs placebo group mean DQ 113.25 ± 9.70. Moreover, mean scores of the Griffiths subscales A, B, and D showed significant differences between the two groups (scale A p < 0.05, scale B p < 0.02, scale D p < 0.01, respectively).Conclusions: We recommend that all LPT neonates receive iron supplementation during the first 6 months of life in order to improve their 1-year neurodevelopmental quotient. What is Known:• Late-preterm infants (LPT) are at increased risk for long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae and also for iron deficiency.• Iron deficiency is an independent risk factor for adverse neurological outcomes. What is New:• Healthy late-preterm who received iron supplementation during the first 6 months of life achieved better neurological outcomes at 12-month post-conceptional age than LPT who received placebo.• Our study strongly supports the need for the implementation of martial prophylaxis in LPT neonates.

Deficiencia de hierro y desarrollo psicomotor infantil en una zona rural de Chota, Perú 2022

“…The iron deficiency results coincide with those of diverse studies, which showed that mild and moderate anemia are the most frequent but differ in terms of frequencies. To this respect, Kazakhstan, Pivina et al (31) showed that more and 50% of children younger than 5 years of age presented with iron deficiency anemia; while Luciano et al (32) in Italy, found that close to 30% of one year old children had iron deficiency anemia. Also, Zhang et al (33) showed higher than 35% figures in China.…”

“…Studies from Studies from Uganda (23) , Kazakhstan (31) , Italy (32) , and China (33) showed that nearly one third of participating children had some degree of developmental delay. Likewise, in Peru, Rojas (40) found that on average 62.5% of children were at risk in the developmental areas and global development which were evaluated.…”