Iron Deficiency, Cognitive Functions, and Neurobehavioral Disorders in Children

• Published in: Journal of molecular neuroscience Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Pivina, Lyudmila, Semenova, Yuliya, Doşa, Monica Daniela, Dauletyarova, Marzhan, Bjørklund, Geir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.05.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anemia; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - complications; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - epidemiology; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - physiopathology; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Autism; Basal ganglia; Beverages; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain; Cell Biology; Child; Child Behavior; Children; Cognition; Cognitive ability; Cost of Illness; Developmental Disabilities - epidemiology; Developmental Disabilities - etiology; Diet; Dietary supplements; Essential nutrients; Food; Food intake; Food safety; Ganglia; Homeostasis; Humans; Hyperactivity; Infants; Iron; Iron deficiency; Metabolism; Myelin; Neurochemistry; Neurology; Neurosciences; Nutrient deficiency; Nutrients; Organs; Proteomics; Synaptogenesis; ADHD; Autism; Psychomotor development; Anemia; Children; Iron deficiency; Cognitive function
• ISSN: 0895-8696; 1559-1166; 1559-1166
• DOI: 10.1007/s12031-019-01276-1

More than 25% of the world’s population is affected by anemia, of which more than 50% suffers from iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Children below 7 years of age are the population group that is most vulnerable to iron deficiency. Iron is an essential element in brain metabolism. Iron deficiency can cause changes in neurotransmitter homeostasis, decrease myelin production, impair synaptogenesis, and decline the function of the basal ganglia. Therefore, IDA adversely affects cognitive functions and psychomotor development. Research has shown that iron deficiency is a frequent comorbidity in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder. Iron deficiency may also induce or exacerbate deficiency of other essential nutrients, which may have a negative impact on the developing brain and other organs in infants. Many nations of the world have programs to control IDA based on the use of iron supplementation, intake of fortified food and drinks, improved food safety, and monitoring of dietary diversity. Based on the current recommendations of the World Health Organization on cost-effectiveness (WHO-CHOICE), iron fortification and iron supplementation programs can be considered cost-effective or even highly cost-effective in most countries of the world to averting cognitive impairment.