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Correlations between Sleep Features and Iron Status in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Cross-Sectional

Donatella Giambersio1,2, Lucia Marzulli3, Lucia Margari2

  • 1Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

Journal of Clinical Medicine
|August 12, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) often experience sleep disturbances. This study found a link between iron status and sleep quality in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), suggesting routine iron assessment for NDDs with sleep issues.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Nutritional Neuroscience

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are common in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disability (ID).
  • The causes of sleep problems in these children are varied, with a growing interest in the role of iron deficiency.
  • Understanding these sleep issues is crucial for improving quality of life for affected children and their families.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate sleep patterns in children diagnosed with NDDs.
  • To explore potential correlations between biomarkers of iron status and the qualitative aspects of sleep in these children.
  • To determine if iron status influences sleep disturbances in pediatric NDD populations.

Main Methods:

  • The study included children aged 4-12 years with diagnoses of ASD, ADHD, or ID.
  • Sleep features were evaluated using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).
  • Serum levels of ferritin, transferrin, and iron were measured from blood samples.

Main Results:

  • All groups of children exhibited mean CSHQ total scores above the established cut-off, indicating significant sleep disturbances.
  • A notable negative correlation was observed in the ASD group between the Parasomnias subscale score and serum ferritin levels (Rho = 0.354; p = 0.029).
  • These results suggest a potential relationship between iron levels and sleep quality in children with NDDs.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest an association between iron status, sleep quality, and neurodevelopmental processes in children.
  • Routine sleep assessments are recommended for all patients with NDDs.
  • Iron status biomarker assessments should be considered for children with NDDs experiencing sleep disturbances.

Keywords:
attention deficit hyperactivity disorderautism spectrum disorderchildren’s sleep habits questionnaireferritinintellectual disabilityiron status biomarkersneurodevelopmental disorderssleep disturbances

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