Skip to main content
Log in

Iron deficiency anaemia: Effect on congnitive development in children: A review

  • Published:
Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Iron deficiency evolves slowly through several stages. Early iron deficiency caused a depletion in iron stores as shown by a reduction in the levels of hepatic non-heme iron in the new born of iron deficient mothers. Of particular importance is the effect on central nervous system, which leads to the defects in the cognition and learning processes in humans. Evidence is strong that in many under developed countries iron deficiency is the main cause of anaemia and supplementation under trial conditions may prevent some defects of iron deficiency but not all.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rush, D. (2000) Nutrition and maternal mortality in the developing world. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 72 (Suppl.), 2125–2405.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Chakraborty, I. and Ghosh, K. (2002) Micronutrient malnutrition-present status and future remedies. J. Indian Med. Asso. 98 (9), 539–542.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Walter, T. (1993) Impact of iron deficiency on cognition in infancy and childhood. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 47, 307–316.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Beard, J.L. (2001) Iron Biology in immune Function, muscle metabolism and neuronal functioning. J. Nutr. 131, 5685–5805.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Walter, T., de Andraca, I., Chadud, P. and Perales, C.G. (1989) Iron deficiency anaemia: adverse effects on infant psychomotor development. Pediatrics 84, 7–17.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Enkson, K.M. Jones and Beard, J.F. (2001) Altered functioning of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in brain of iron deficient rats. Physio. Pharmal. Behav. 69, 409–418.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Lozoff, B., Wolf, A.W., Urrutia, J.J. and Viteri, F.E. (1985) Abnormal behavior and low developmental test scores in iron-deficient anemic infants. J. Dev. Behav. Pediatr. 6, 69–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Beard, J.L. (1999) Iron deficiency and neural development: an update-Arch. Latinoam Nutr. 49 (3 suppl 2), 34s-39s.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lozoff, B., Wolf, A.W. and Jimenez, E. (1996) Iron-deficiency anaemia and infant development: effects of extended oral iron therapy. J. Pediatr. 129, 382–389.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Larkin, E.C. and Rao, C.A. (1990) Importance of fetal & neonatal iron adequacy for normal development of central nervous system. In: Brain behaviour and iron in the infant diet (Dobbing J. ed.) pp 43–63 London (U.K.).

  11. Pollit, E. and Kim, I. (1988) Learning and achievement among iron deficiency children in brain iron. Neurochemical and behavioural aspects (Youdin, M.B.H., ed.) pp 115–144, Taylor and Francis, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Beard, J.L., Conners, J.D. and Jone, B.C. (1993) Brain iron, location and function, Prog. Food Nutrition Science 17 (3), 183–221.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Anderson, G.J., Wall, C., Halliday, J.W. and Cleghorn, G. (1994) Clinical correlates of iron status. Liver Unit Queensland Institute of Medical Research.

  14. Hallberg, L., Bengtsson, C., Lapidus, L., Lindsteadt, G., Lundberg, P.A. and Hulten, L. (1993a) Screening for iron deficiency, an analysis based on bone marrow examination and serum ferritin determinations in population samples for women. Br. J. Hematol. 85, 787–798.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Committee on nutrition, American Academy of Pediatrics (1992) The use of whole cow’s milk in infancy. Pediatrics 89, 1105–1108.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Silmes, M.A., Refine, C. and Dallman, P.R. (1980) Manifestation of iron deficiency at various levels of dietary intake. Am. J. Clin. Nut. 3, 570–574.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Tucker, D.M., Sandstead, H.H., Penland, J.G., Davson, S.L. and Milne, D.B. (1984) Iron status & Brain function. Serum ferritin levels associated with asymmetrical cortical electro physiology and congnitive performance. Am. J. Clin. Nut. 39, 105–113.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Erpstein, R. and Connor, J.R. (1999) The role of iron in neurodegenerative diseases (Bondy S.E. ed) pp 28–50 Melbourne, Australia.

  19. Rocangliolo, M., Garrido, M., Welliamson, A., Lozoff, B. and Peirano (1996) Delayed Maturation of auditory brain stem responses in iron deficient anemic.

  20. Van Zehen, D., Bieger, R., Van Wermeskerken, R.K., Castel, A. and Hermans, J. (1990) Evaluation of microcytosis using serum ferritin and red blood cell distribution width. Eur. J. Hematol. 44 (2), 106–109.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Cook, J.D., Finch, C.A. and Smith, N.J. (1976) Evaluation of the iron status of a Population. Blood 48, 449.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Cook, J.D., Lipschitz, D.A., Miles, L.E.M. and Finch, C.A. (1994) Serum ferritin as a measure of iron stores in normal subjects. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 27, 681–687.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ghai, O.P., Gupta, Piyush and Paul, V.K. (2002) Growth and Development Essential paediatrics. V Edition (31–40)

  24. De Andraca, I., Walter, T., Castillo, M., Pino, P., Rivera, P. and Cobo, C. (1990) Iron deficiency anaemia and its effects upon psychological development at preschool age: a longitudinal study. Nestle Foundation Annual Report. Lausanne, Switzerland, Nestlé Foundation, 53–62.

  25. Lozoff, B., Wolf, A.W., Urrutia, J.J. and Viteri, F.E. (1985) Abnormal behavior and low developmental test scores in iron-deficient anemic infants. J. Dev. Behav. Pediatr. 6, 69–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Lozoff, B. and M.Det al. (2000) Poorer behavioural and developmental outcome more than 10 years after treatment for iron deficiency in infancy. 105 issue 4.

  27. Taneja, V., Mishra, K. and Agarwal, K.N. (1986) effect of early iron deficiency in rat on GABA shunt in brain. J. Neurochem. 46, 1670–1674.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Mittal, R.D., Pandey, Amita, Mittal, Balraj and Agarwal, Kailash Nath (2002) Effect of latent iron deficiency on GABA and Glutamate Neuroreceptors in Rat. Brain 17 (2), 1–6.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Batra, Jyoti and Seth P.K. (2002) Effect of iron deficiency on developing rat brain. Ind. J. Cl. Bio. 17 (2), 108–114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Hall, J.M. (1988) The distribution of iron. In brain iron neurochemistry and behavioural aspects (Youdim M.B.H. ed.) Taylor and Francis, London (U.K.).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Li, D. (1998) Effect of iron deficiency on iron distribution and GABA Metabolism in young brain tissue. Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi 73, 215–255.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Cartwright, G.E. and Lee, G.R. (1991) The anaemia of chromic disorder. Br. J. Haemot. 91, 147.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Seshadri, S. and Gopaldes, T. (1989) Impact of iron supplementation on congnitive functions in preschool and school-aged children: the Indian experience. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 50, 675–686.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Martin, S., Logan, S. and Gilbert, R. (2004) Iron therapy for improving psychomotor development and cognative function in children, review summary, informed health online

  35. Oti-Boateng, P., Gibson, R.A., Seshadri, R. and Simmer, K. (1994) The iron status and dietary intake of iron in young children. J. Ped. and Child health. 30, A-17.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Batra, J., Sood, A. Iron deficiency anaemia: Effect on congnitive development in children: A review. Indian J Clin Biochem 20, 119–125 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02867410

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02867410

Key words

Navigation