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Iron supplementation brings up a lacking P300 in iron deficient children
Gloria A Otero1, Francisco B Pliego-Rivero, Graciela Contreras
1Facultad de Medicina, Department of Neurophysiology, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, P. Tollocan esq J. Carranza (s/n), 50180 Toluca, Mexico. gloriao@uaemex.mx
Insights
Iron deficiency in children is linked to attention deficits, evidenced by reduced P300 brainwave activity. Iron supplementation significantly improves P300 responses, suggesting a strong correlation between iron levels and cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Iron deficiency (ID) impacts neurotransmitter systems crucial for cognitive functions like attention.
- Previous research indicates cognitive impairments in iron-deficient children, but electrophysiological evidence is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate attention deficits in iron-deficient children using event-related potentials (ERPs).
- To determine the effect of iron supplementation on P300 amplitude in iron-deficient children.
Main Methods:
- Collected blood samples from 201 children for hematological analysis to identify iron-deficient (ID) and control (C) groups.
- Recorded visual-event related potentials (ERPs) using an oddball paradigm during a continuous performance task for both groups.
- Administered iron supplementation to ID children (ID-IS group) and re-evaluated ERPs and cognitive performance.
Main Results:
- Iron-deficient children exhibited a significantly reduced P300 response in central and parietal regions.
- Following iron supplementation, P300 became evident in the ID-IS group.
- The P300 amplitude in the ID-IS group remained smaller compared to the control group after supplementation.
Conclusions:
- A strong correlation exists between iron deficiency and attention deficits in children.
- Iron supplementation substantially restores P300 function, indicating its critical role in attention.
- Further research is needed to ascertain if residual P300 differences are due to other factors or developmental issues.
Objective:
A decrease in iron concentration is accompanied by alterations in catecholaminergic and GABAergic neurotransmission systems, important in learning, memory and attention. It was hypothesized that iron deficient children would present attention deficits. A visual-event related potentials (ERPs) study is presented using an oddball paradigm in order to determine the P300 in ID children.
Methods:
After medical examination, blood was obtained from 201 children for a complete hematological study. Two groups were selected, iron deficient (ID) (serum iron <60 microg/dl) and control (C) (serum iron >60 microg/dl). In both groups ERPs were recorded while executing a continuous performance task (oddball paradigm). Afterwards iron levels were restored in ID children by iron supplementation (ID-IS group) and all tests reapplied.
Results:
ID children almost lacked a P300 in central and parietal regions. After iron supplementation, P300 clearly became evident although its Pz amplitude remained smaller compared to C children.
Conclusions:
A clear and strong correlation was found between ID and attention alterations in children. Iron supplementation nearly brings the P300 to normal levels although it is not known if the P300 difference in Pz is due to other nutritional/environmental deficits or to developmental psychomotor impairments in ID children.
Significance:
It has been long known that iron deficient children have cognitive impairments but there is an insufficient number of electrophysiological works allowing to identify the source of this problem. In this work an attention deficit is demonstrated in ID children through a severely reduced P300, which recovers substantially after iron supplementation.