You might found that your child not paying attention in the class, always sleep in the class, get low marks for the exams, cannot remember what have been taught in the school? So you take them for tuition class but the result might be the same. It might not be their fault but what is wrong with them? Does the type of food that your children eat influence their attention, memory or cognitive development? Poor concentration, poor memory and lethargy are some symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.

The Adverse Effects of Iron Deficiency Anemia

It is well known that protein-energy malnutrition associated to children’s cognitive development and their ability to learn. Findings from studies in experimental animals and humans indicate that deficiencies of iron can affect cognition. 3 Because iron is crucial component in carrying oxygen throughout the body parts including the brain. Providing sufficient of iron for the brain is very important to the brain function, especially concentrate when learning and memory. It is involved in the function and synthesis of neurotransmitters and possibly myelin. Experimental animal studies indicate that iron is essential components of the brain and involved in brain development and central nervous system functions. In human, iron deficiency may be associated with neuropsychological impairments in infants, preschool and school-age children, adolescents and adults. 3

Numerous studies have demonstrated that moderate iron deficiency anemia is associated with depressed mental and motor development in children that may not be reversible. Children and adolescents who are anemic are more likely to repeat school grades or need special services. They may have lower test scores of cognitive performance (spatial memory and selective recall). 5 School-aged children and adolescents demonstrated lower standardized math scores. 1

How To Prevent Iron deficiency Anemia Or Can We Overcome Iron Deficiency?

Prevention is always better than cure. Thus, It is always good to give your children a balance and nutritious diet everyday. Iron deficiency anemia can be prevented through the use of iron-containing or iron-fortified foods such as meat and fortified breakfast cereals. If iron deficiency anemia is detected, it should be treated with appropriate doses of bioavailability iron, such as ferrous sulfate or fumarate.

Iron deficiency school-age children can be reversed if iron supplement intervention has been carried out. A study carried out in Indonesia to investigate the relation of iron deficiency and cognitive function and impact of iron supplementation on verbal intelligence, attention and concept learning among iron deficient children without anemia and iron deficient anemic children. Researchers found that there is an improvement on child’s mental and psychomotor development. 4 However, if iron deficiency anemia in childhood and adolescent which is associated with serious adverse outcomes that may not be reversible. 5

Halterman, J.S., Kaczorowski, J.M., Aligne, C.A. Auinger, P. & Szilagyi, P.G. 2001.
Iron deficiency and cognitive achievement among school-aged children and adolescents in the United States. Pediatrics. 107 (6): 1381-1386.

Mahan, L.K & Escott-Stump, S. 1996. Krause’s food, nutrition, & diet therapy. 9 th ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company.

Soewondo, S. 1995. The effect of iron deficiency and mental stimulation on Indonesian children's cognitive performance and development. Kobe J Med Sci. 41(1-2):1-17.

Zlotkin, S. 2003. Clinical nutrition: 8. the role of nutrition in the prevention of iron deficiency anemia in infants, children and adolescents. CMAJ 168 (1): 59-63.