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Lower iron stores were associated with suboptimal gross motor scores in infants at 3-7 months

Ulf Wike Ljungblad1,2, Trine Tangeraas3, Henriette Paulsen4

  • 1Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|June 29, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Low iron levels, indicated by ferritin <51 μg/L or reticulocyte haemoglobin (ret-Hb) <28 pg, are linked to poorer gross motor skills in infants aged 3-7 months. These iron status markers can help identify infants at risk for developmental delays.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Nutritional Science
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Iron deficiency is a global concern affecting infant development.
  • Gross motor skills are crucial indicators of early childhood development.
  • Understanding the relationship between iron status and motor development is vital for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between iron status and gross motor development in infants aged 3-7 months.
  • To identify specific iron status indicators and their predictive values for suboptimal motor scores.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 252 infants aged 3-7 months.
  • Gross motor skills assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS).
  • Iron status evaluated through ferritin and reticulocyte haemoglobin (ret-Hb) levels, analyzed using logistic regression and ROC curves.

Main Results:

  • Optimal cut-off values identified: ferritin <51 μg/L and ret-Hb <28 pg for predicting low AIMS z-scores.
  • Ferritin <51 μg/L predicted suboptimal AIMS scores (OR 3.3, p=0.006).
  • Infants with ret-Hb <28 pg showed significantly higher rates of suboptimal AIMS scores (43% vs 2.1%, p<0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Low reticulocyte haemoglobin (ret-Hb) and ferritin levels are associated with suboptimal gross motor scores in infants.
  • These iron status markers can serve as valuable tools for identifying infants at risk.
  • Early monitoring of iron status may be important for supporting optimal motor development in infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
ferritininfant nutritionironmotor developmentreticulocyte haemoglobin

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