Looking Through a Crystal. Ball: Impact of iron status on Cognitive Functions in Egyptian Children

Abstract

Objective: Determine the effect of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) & iron deficiency (ID), on the cognitive functions in children and its consequences. Patients and Methods: Three groups of children were enrolled in this case-control study with an age range of 3-8 years. They were selected from pediatric and phoniatric clinics in Egypt. Control group (CG): thirty normal children. Case groups were divided into GroupI: Nineteen Delayed language development children had ID only, Group II: Thirty Delayed language development children had iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Groups were subjected to (1) Full history taking (focusing on nutritional history). ( 2) CBC by automatic cell counters. (3) Iron status through estimation of serum ferritin level by ELISA. (4) Assessment of cognitive functions by assessment of Non-verbal Intelligent Quotient (NV-IQ) using Stanford Binet 5 th Edition measuring (fluid reasoning, knowledge, quantitative reasoning, visual-spatial processing, and working memory). ( 5) Assessment of language-by-language test to confirm diagnosis of delayed language development. Results: Under the umbrella of faulty eating habits, there was a direct correlation between the NV-IQ and the deterioration of iron status with their consequence on delaying language development. Conclusion: There is a necessary to assess NV-IQ and iron status in any child with delayed language development with poor attention span, intelligence, sensory perception functions, emotions, and behavior, especially with the condition of faulty eating habits.