Iron deficiency anemia is the most frequent
micronutrient deficiency in the developing countries like India especially affecting pregnant women and young children.
Iron is an essential
element involved in myelin formation,
neurotransmitter synthesis and neuro-metabolism. Several behavioural disturbances have been reported in
iron deficient children. In the present study, we determined the prevalence of
iron deficiency anemia in children with behavioural disorders and assessed the improvement in terms of symptoms (by child behaviour check list), haematological parameters and
iron status
after treatment with oral
iron. In this prospective study, 44 children in the age group of 3-12 years who were diagnosed with behavioural disorders were evaluated. Complete blood counts using automated hematology analyzer and
iron parameters (serum
iron, total
iron binding capacity, %
transferrin saturation and serum
ferritin) were measured in all the patients to assess the prevalence of
iron deficiency in these children. Thirty age matched controls were also studied.
Iron deficiency was found in 32 (73%) children, as assessed by
transferrin saturation <16% and/or serum
ferritin <16 μg/l. Following treatment with
iron for 100 ± 10 days, there was a statistically (P ≤ 0.05) significant improvement in the clinical features, haematological profile and
iron status. The presence of
iron deficiency in children with behavioural disorders and subsequent improvement in clinical features, haematological profile and
iron status suggests a possible causal relationship between
iron deficiency and behavioural disorders.