Effects of haemoglobin and serum ferritin on cognitive function in school children

Abstract

The association between iron deficiency anaemia and cognitive function impairment has been widely reported in young children, but whether the impairment is a result of iron deficiency per se or a combination of iron deficiency and anaemia, and how these conditions interact, is still questionable. Four hundred and twenty-seven school children from two schools in socioeconomically deprived communities were selected in southern Thailand. Iron status was determined by haemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations. Cognitive function in this study was measured by IQ test and school performance, including Thai language and mathematics scores, using z-scores based on distributions within the same grade and school. Data on demography and socioeconomic status were collected by questionnaire answered by the parents. Linear regression models were used to investigate the effect of anaemia and iron deficiency, reflected by haemoglobin and serum ferritin concentration, on cognitive function and school performance. We found that cognitive function increased with increased haemoglobin concentration in children with iron deficiency, but did not change with haemoglobin concentration in children with normal serum ferritin level. Children with iron deficiency anaemia had consistently the poorest cognitive function (IQ, 74.6 points; Thai language score, 0.3 SD below average; and mathematics score, 0.5 SD below average). Children with non-anaemic iron deficiency but with high haemoglobin levels had significantly high cognitive function (IQ, 86.5 points; Thai language score, 0.8 SD above average; and mathematics score, 1.1 SD above average). This study found a dose-response relationship between haemoglobin and cognitive function in children with iron deficiency, whereas no similar evidence was found in iron sufficient children.