SEARCHMETA-ANALYSISpediatrics, nutrition

meta-analysis·pediatrics, nutrition, clinical nutrition, micronutrients, minerals·PMC10298800

Effects of iron supplementation on cognitive development in school-age children: Systematic review and meta-analysis

PLOS ONE · 12 authors, 5 centres

AI SUMMARY

FIDELITY 100%

POPULATIONSchool-age children aged 6–12 years

INTERVENTIONIron supplementation

COMPARISONPlacebo or non-intervention

This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.

AGENT 01 · STRUCTURED SUMMARY

TRACE TO SOURCE

“

TL;DR

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials found that iron supplementation significantly improved intelligence, attention and concentration, and memory in school-age children (6–12 years), with greater benefits among children who were anemic at baseline, but did not significantly improve school achievement.

Full summary

535 CHARS

This systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA guidelines and searched five databases up to October 2022, identifying 13 randomized controlled trials of iron supplementation in school-age children (6–12 years). Subgroup analyses showed greater intelligence and memory benefits in children who were anemic at baseline. However, the significant effect on intelligence was driven by studies classified as high or moderate risk of bias, and was not significant after excluding studies combining iron with folic acid or vitamin C.

PICO

PPOPULATION

School-age children aged 6–12 years

IINTERVENTION

Iron supplementation

OOUTCOME

Cognitive development (intelligence, attention and concentration, memory, and school achievement)

STUDY TYPE

meta-analysis

SPECIALTY

pediatrics

SUMMARISED BY

AI pipeline

FIDELITY CHECK

100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10298800

Effects of iron supplementation on cognitive development in school-age children: Systematic review and meta-analysis

PLOS ONE

READ THE FULL PAPER

ABSTRACT

Abstract Background Iron deficiency is negatively associated with children’s cognitive development. Evidence showed that iron supplementation improves cognitive development. Nearly 50% of anemia is caused by iron deficiency. Anemia affects more school-age children, at an age where their brain development continues. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to review the evidence from published randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effects of iron supplementation on cognitive development and function among school-age children. Method Five databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science and CENTRAL were used to search for articles on April 20 th , 2021. The search was reconducted on October 13 th , 2022 to retrieve new records. Studies were eligible if they included school children 6–12 years of age, were randomized controlled trials, and if they tested iron supplementation and measured cognitive development. Result Thirteen articles were included in the systematic review. Overall, iron supplementation significantly improved intelligence (standardized mean difference, 95% confidence interval) (SMD 0.46, 95%CI: 0.19, 0.73, P<0.001), attention and concentration (SMD 0.44, 95%CI: 0.07, 0.81, P = 0.02) and memory (SMD 0.44, 95%CI: 0.21, 0.67, P <0.001) of school-age children. There was no significant effect of iron supplementation on school achievement of school-age children (SMD 0.06, 95%CI: -0.15, 0.26, P = 0.56). In a subgroup analysis, iron-supplemented children who were anemic at baseline had had better outcomes of intelligence (SMD 0.79, 95%CI: 0.41, 1.16, P = 0.001) and memory (SMD 0.47, 95%CI: 0.13, 0.81; P = 0.006). Conclusion Iron supplementation has a significant positive effect on the intelligence, attention and concentration, and the memory of school-age children but there was no evidence on the effect of iron supplementation on their school achievement.

CITATION EXPORT

Befikadu Tariku Gutema, Muluken Bekele Sorrie, Nega Degefa Megersa et al.. Effects of iron supplementation on cognitive development in school-age children: Systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287703

AUTHORS

12 · 5 CENTRES

Befikadu Tariku Gutema, Muluken Bekele Sorrie, Nega Degefa Megersa, Gesila Endashaw Yesera, Yordanos Gizachew Yeshitila, Nele S Pauwels, Stefaan De Henauw, Souheila Abbeddou, Ammal Mokhtar Metwally, Ammal Mokhtar Metwally, Ammal Mokhtar Metwally, Ammal Mokhtar Metwally

1School of Public Health, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
2Public Health Nutrition Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
3School of Nursing, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
4Knowledge Centre for Health Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
5National Research Centre, EGYPT