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Iron status predicts cognitive test performance of primary school children from Kumasi, Ghana

Afua Afreh Mantey1,2, Reginald Adjetey Annan2, Herman Erick Lutterodt3

  • 1Department of Laboratory Technology, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana.

Plos One
|May 19, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Good nutrition is vital for school children's cognition. This study found iron status, particularly hemoglobin levels, positively correlated with cognitive performance in Ghanaian children, highlighting the need for interventions against iron deficiency anemia.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Cognitive Development
  • Public Health

Background:

  • School-aged children's nutritional status is critical for cognitive function.
  • Assessing the link between nutrition and cognition in Ghanaian school children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the relationship between nutritional status and cognitive performance in school-aged children.
  • To identify specific nutritional factors influencing cognition in the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana.

Main Methods:

  • 389 children from government schools in Kumasi, Ghana participated.
  • Data collected included socio-demographics, anthropometrics, blood nutrient levels, and dietary intake (food frequency questionnaire, previous day recall).
  • Cognitive function was assessed using the Ravens Colored Progressive Matrix (RCPM).

Main Results:

  • Cognitive status did not significantly vary by anthropometric measurements or dietary patterns.
  • Anemia prevalence was higher in children scoring below the 40th percentile on the RCPM.
  • Hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels showed a weak positive association with RCPM scores.
  • Children with lower folate, vitamin B6, iron, and zinc intake had significantly different cognitive test score percentiles.

Conclusions:

  • Iron status, particularly hemoglobin, is correlated with cognitive performance in school-aged children.
  • Nutritional strategies targeting iron deficiency anemia are essential for improving cognitive outcomes.
  • Further research into specific micronutrient impacts on cognition is warranted.
Abstract

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