Long-term neuroendocrine effects of iron-deficiency anemia in infancy

Abstract

Introduction: Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is recognized to have long-lasting effects on neurodevelopment, but there is little research on neuroendocrine systems. Methods: This study examined the effects of IDA in early or later infancy on plasma cortisol and prolactin stress–response patterns for 1 h after a venipuncture and catheter placement in 10-y-old healthy Chilean children. Children identified with IDA at 6 mo (IDA-6; n = 13) or 12 mo (IDA-12; n = 24) and who were iron sufficient (IS) at other infancy time points were compared to children who were IS at all time points during infancy (n = 23). All children received at least 6 mo of oral iron treatment in infancy. Results: At 10 y of age, IDA-6 and IDA-12 children demonstrated altered cortisol response patterns; both showed a more immediate decline and IDA-12 children showed a blunted curvature as compared to IS children. IDA-12 children showed significantly lower cortisol levels at 30 and 45 min after venipuncture and catheter placement than did IS children. There were no significant differences for stress–responsive plasma prolactin patterns between groups. Discusion: The results indicate that having IDA during infancy is associated with long-term neuroendocrine effects on stress–responsive cortisol patterns.