AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF IRON SUPPLEMENT IN COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT IN CHILDREN.

Abstract

Introduction: Iron deficiency anemia is most common nutritional deficiency disorder in India and remains a formidable health challenge. Iron deficiency leads to many nonhematological disturbances which include growth and development, depressed immune function in infants; reduces physical work capacity; decreases the cognitive function in both infants and adolescents. Present study was done to know the effect of iron supplement in cognitive enhancement in children.

Material and Method: Participants at three randomly selected schools were given iron supplement either once weekly or twice weekly or daily for one year. The fourth was the control school. In our study School boys (n=142) in the age group of 8-13 years was participated.

Results: iron supplementation given daily and twice weekly significantly improved cognition in most tests; the effect was not seen in once-weekly or control groups. In daily and twice weekly iron supplement  groups, positive change in cognition test scores was relatively higher in boys with good compliance(>70% dose) vs. poor compliance; in anemic (hemoglobin1.1g/dL) vs. lower Hb gain.

Conclusion: Twice weekly IFA supplementation is comparable to daily IFA in terms of beneficial effects on cognition in young adolescent girls.

Keywords: Anemia, Cognition, Iron supplementation, School boys.