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Long-term effects of iron and zinc supplementation during infancy on cognitive function at 9 y of age in northeast Thai children: a follow-up study.

The American journal of clinical nutrition
March 1, 2011
Tippawan Pongcharoen et al. (6 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine whether iron supplementation during infancy leads to long-term cognitive improvements in children by age 9.

Results Summary

The study found no significant differences in cognitive performance or school achievement at age 9 between children who received iron supplementation in infancy and those who did not. Iron supplementation did not result in long-term cognitive benefits.

Population

560 children aged 4-6 months at the start of the study, followed up at age 9.

Effective Dosage

Daily supplementation for 6 months (specific dosage not mentioned in the abstract).

Duration

6 months

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (15)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
iron supplementation
no change
cognitive performance
9-y-old children
no significant differences
does not lead to long-term cognitive improvement
#1
zinc supplementation
no change
cognitive performance
9-y-old children
no significant differences
does not lead to long-term cognitive improvement
#2
iron plus zinc supplementation
no change
cognitive performance
9-y-old children
no significant differences
does not lead to long-term cognitive improvement
#3
iron supplementation
no change
full scale intelligence quotient
children aged 9 y
92.9 to 93.7
No significant differences
#4
zinc supplementation
no change
full scale intelligence quotient
children aged 9 y
92.9 to 93.7
No significant differences
#5
iron plus zinc supplementation
no change
full scale intelligence quotient
children aged 9 y
92.9 to 93.7
No significant differences
#6
iron supplementation
no change
verbal intelligence quotient
children aged 9 y
93.9-95.4
No significant differences
#7
zinc supplementation
no change
verbal intelligence quotient
children aged 9 y
93.9-95.4
No significant differences
#8
iron plus zinc supplementation
no change
verbal intelligence quotient
children aged 9 y
93.9-95.4
No significant differences
#9
iron supplementation
no change
performance intelligence quotient
children aged 9 y
93.1-94.0
No significant differences
#10
zinc supplementation
no change
performance intelligence quotient
children aged 9 y
93.1-94.0
No significant differences
#11
iron plus zinc supplementation
no change
performance intelligence quotient
children aged 9 y
93.1-94.0
No significant differences
#12
iron supplementation
no change
Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices score
children aged 9 y
21.4 to 22.4
No significant differences
#13
zinc supplementation
no change
Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices score
children aged 9 y
21.4 to 22.4
No significant differences
#14
iron plus zinc supplementation
no change
Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices score
children aged 9 y
21.4 to 22.4
No significant differences
#15
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Iron and zinc are important micronutrients for child growth and development. One would expect that iron and zinc supplementation in infancy would affect long-term cognitive development and school achievement, but this has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of iron or zinc supplementation or both during infancy on cognitive performance 8 y later. DESIGN: A follow-up study was performed in 560 children aged 9 y or 92% of those who had participated in a randomized controlled trial involving 4 groups who received daily iron, zinc, iron plus zinc, or a placebo at 4-6 mo of age for 6 mo. Cognitive performance was assessed by using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (Thai version), the Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices (CPM), and school performance tests. General linear mixed models were used to assess long-term effects. RESULTS: No significant differences in any of the outcomes at 9 y of age were observed at follow-up between the 4 groups. Mean intelligence quotients ranged across groups from 92.9 to 93.7 for full scale, 93.9-95.4 for verbal, and 93.1-94.0 for performance. The Raven's CPM score ranged from 21.4 to 22.4. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with iron or zinc or both during infancy does not lead to long-term cognitive improvement in 9-y-old children. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00824304.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
ChildChild DevelopmentCognition DisordersCross-Sectional StudiesDietary SupplementsFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansInfantIntelligenceIntelligence TestsIron, DietaryMaleTask Performance and AnalysisThailandZinc
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy20/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations37
Citations/Year2.6
Relative Citation Ratio1.40
NIH Percentile62.6%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.45
Normalized Score0.45
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