Reversal of developmental delays in iron-deficient anaemic infants treated with iron

doi:10.1016/0140-6736(93)92477-B

The Lancet

Volume 341, Issue 8836, 2 January 1993, Pages 1-4

https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(93)92477-B Get rights and content

Abstract

Iron-deficient anaemic infants perform worse in tests of mental and motor development than do iron-sufficient infants of a comparable age. A randomised, double-blind trial was done to monitor the effects of iron supplementation on performance in the Bayley scales of mental and motor development among 12-18-month-old infants in Indonesia.

Iron-deficient anaemic infants (n=50) were assigned randomly to receive dietary ferrous sulphate or placebo for 4 months. Similar treatment randomisation was done among nonanaemic iron-deficient (n=29) and iron-sufficient (n=47) infants. Before intervention, the mean mental and motor scores of the iron-deficient anaemic infants were significantly (p <0·01) lower than those of the nonanaemic iron-deficient and iron-sufficient classes. After intervention, developmental delays were reversed among iron-deficient anaemic infants who had received iron but they remained the same among placebo-treated iron-deficient anaemic infants. Neither ferrous sulphate nor placebo had significant effects on the scores of the other two iron-status classes.

The poor performance of 12-18-month-old iron-deficient anaemic infants in the Bayley scales of mental and motor development can be improved to the level of performance of iron-sufficient infants by treatment with ferrous sulphate.

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ARTICLESReversal of developmental delays in iron-deficient anaemic infants treated with iron

Abstract

Pediatrics

Pediatrics

J Pediatr

Pediatrics

Am J Clin Nutr

Treatment with iron increases weight gain and psychomotor development

Arch Dis Child

Iron deficiency anemia and iron therapy effects on infant developmental test performance

Pediatrics

Long-term developmental outcome of infants with iron deficiency

N Engl J Med

Bayley scales of infant development

ARTICLES
Reversal of developmental delays in iron-deficient anaemic infants treated with iron