Abstract
In a prospective study of a cohort of 196 infants followed from birth to 15 months of age we studied the effect of iron status at 9 and 12 months on a) psychomotor development at 12 mo; b) short term iron therapy (10d) and c) long term iron treatment (3 months). Infants were classified as 39 anemic, 30 controls and 127 iron deficient without anemia. Anemic infants had mental and psychomotor development scores significantly lower (p < 0.0001) than both controls and iron deficient anemia. No differences were detected after 10 days or 3 months of iron therapy demonstrating a long term effect. A lower hemoglobin and longer duration of anemia were correlated to poorer scores. Specific areas of impairment were language aquisition and body balance leading to walking. These results, in a study where intervening variables were carefully controlled suggest that iron deficiency anemia has an adverse effect on infant development and that this effect is not reverted after treatment of anemia.
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Walter, R., De Andraca, I., Chadud, P. et al. 21. ADVERSE EFFECT OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA ON INFANT PSYCOMOTOR DEVELOPMENT. Pediatr Res 23, 650 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198806000-00044
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198806000-00044
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