Impact of iron supplementation on cognitive functions in preschool and school-aged children: the Indian experience

Abstract

Four studies examined impacts of iron supplementation on school children of various ages and both sexes. The first study investigated impact of iron-folic acid supplements for 60 d on cognition in 94 boys and girls aged 5–8 y. Improvement in total scores of the anemics was significantly higher than the nonanemics in 7–8-y-old children only. The second study assessed impacts of supplementation on cognition in 14 pairs of 5–6-y-old anemic boys, with clear beneficial effects on cognitive function. The third study investigated effects of varying dosages of elemental iron on cognitive function in 48 boys aged 8–15 y, with different levels of improvement. The fourth study investigated impacts of iron supplementation on 163 anemic girls aged 8–15 y with treatment and evaluations at 4 and 8 mo, with significantly improved scores in cognitive function after the eighth month.