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Published on: October 24, 2019
Effect of iron deficiency anemia on visual evoked potential of growing children
Madhulika Monga1, V Walia, A Gandhi
1Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. madhulika.monga@gmail.com <madhulika.monga@gmail.com>
Insights
Iron deficiency anemia in infants significantly impacts brain development, delaying visual evoked potential (VEP) wave latencies. Early detection and prevention are crucial for cognitive and visual health in growing children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neuroscience
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a widespread global health issue.
- IDA negatively affects physical growth, immunity, and cognitive development in children.
- Emerging evidence highlights iron's critical role in central nervous system functions, including neurotransmitter synthesis and myelination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of iron deficiency anemia on visual evoked potentials (VEP) in infants aged 6 to 24 months.
Main Methods:
- Children were divided into two groups: iron-replete (control, n=25) and iron-deficient anemic (n=25).
- Iron status was assessed, and conditions affecting VEP or iron status were excluded.
- Flash VEP was recorded for each eye individually.
Main Results:
- Anemic infants exhibited significantly longer latencies for N1, P1, and N2 waves in both eyes (p<0.05) compared to controls.
- A negative correlation was observed between IDA severity and VEP wave latencies.
- These findings suggest impaired neural pathway function in infants with IDA.
Conclusions:
- Iron deficiency anemia adversely affects visual pathway function in infants.
- There is a critical need for the prevention and early detection of IDA in infants.
- Monitoring VEP may offer insights into the neurological impact of IDA in early childhood.
Abstract:
Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most prevalent yet neglected nutritional deficiencies in the world. Iron is an essential micronutrient and it is ubiquitous in distribution in body. Iron deficiency leads to anemia, hampered physical growth and capacity, and decreased immunoprotective mechanisms. Impairments in cognitive and motor development in children are also seen in iron deficiency. There is increasing number of evidence to support that iron plays important role in central nervous system functions that include synthesis of neurotransmitters and myelination of the nerve. The objective of our study was to observe the effect of iron deficiency anemia on visual evoked potential (VEP) in children between 6 and 24 months of age. The subjects were categorized on the basis of hematological parameters in two groups: iron replete children in the control group (n=25) and iron deplete children in the anemic group (n=25). Iron status of the children was also assessed. Due care was taken to exclude all conditions known to adversely affect the visual evoked potential or the iron status of the children. Flash VEP was studied in all children from each eye individually. In both eyes each of the three waves (N1, P1 and N2) of the flash VEP showed longer latencies (p<0.05) in the anemic group compared with the control group. A negative correlation was found between the severity of iron deficiency anemia and latencies of waves of VEP. Hence, there is a need for prevention and early detection of iron deficiency anemia in growing infants.
