Impact of iron supplementation on cognitive functions in preschool and school-aged children: the Indian experience.

Four studies examined impacts of iron supplementation on school children of various ages and both sexes. The first study investigated impact of iron-folic acid supplements for 60 d on cognition in 94 boys and girls aged 5-8 y. Improvement in total scores of the anemics was significantly higher than the nonanemics in 7-8-y-old children only. The second study assessed impacts of supplementation on cognition in 14 pairs of 5-6-y-old anemic boys, with clear beneficial effects on cognitive function. The third study investigated effects of varying dosages of elemental iron on cognitive function in 48 boys aged 8-15 y, with different levels of improvement. The fourth study investigated impacts of iron supplementation on 163 anemic girls aged 8-15 y with treatment and evaluations at 4 and 8 mo, with significantly improved scores in cognitive function after the eighth month.