In:
British Journal of Nutrition, Cambridge University Press (CUP), Vol. 118, No. 5 ( 2017-09-14), p. 360-367
Abstract:
Fe deficiency in early childhood is associated with long-term consequences for cognitive, motor and behavioural development; however explorations in healthy children from low risk, high-resource settings have been limited. We aimed to explore associations between Fe status and neurodevelopmental outcomes in low risk, healthy 2-year-olds. This study was a secondary analysis of a nested case–control subgroup from the prospective, maternal-infant Cork Babies after Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints: Evaluating the Longitudinal Impact using Neurological and Nutritional Endpoints (BASELINE) Birth Cohort Study. At 2 years, serum ferritin, Hb and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were measured and neurodevelopment was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development ( n 87). Five children had Fe deficiency (ferritin 〈 12 µg/l) and no child had Fe deficiency anaemia (Hb 〈 110 g/l+ferritin 〈 12 µg/l). Children with microcytosis (MCV 〈 74 fl, n 13) had significantly lower mean cognitive composite scores (88·5 ( sd 13·3) v . 97·0 ( sd 7·8), P =0·04, Cohen’s d effect size=0·8) than those without microcytosis. The ferritin concentration which best predicted microcytosis was calculated as 18·4 µg/l (AUC=0·87 (95% CI 0·75, 0·98), P 〈 0·0001, sensitivity 92 %, specificity 75 %). Using 18·5 µg/l as a threshold, children with concentrations 〈 18·5 µg/l had significantly lower mean cognitive composite scores (92·3 ( sd 10·5) v . 97·8 ( sd 8·1), P =0·012, Cohen’s d effect size=0·6) compared with those with ferritin ≥18·5 µg/l. All associations were robust after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Despite a low prevalence of Fe deficiency using current diagnostic criteria in this healthy cohort, microcytosis was associated with lower cognitive outcomes at 2 years. This exploratory study emphasises the need for re-evaluation of the diagnostic criteria for Fe deficiency in young children, with further research in adequately powered studies warranted.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0007-1145
,
1475-2662
DOI:
10.1017/S0007114517001945
Language:
English
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publication Date:
2017
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2016047-1
SSG:
12
SSG:
21
