Skip to main content
. 2025 Mar 3;42(2):108–120. doi: 10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2025.2024-11-24

TABLE 3. Summary of Studies.

Study

Age diagnosed

Iron therapy

Follow-up

Outcome

Measurement

Test subject

Result

Algarín et al.,32 2003 (cohort, Chile)

6, 12, and 18 months

Age 6 months: 15 mg/day ferrous sulfate for 1 year

Age 12 and 18 months: 30 mg/day for at least 6 months

Age 4 years

Auditory brainstem responses

Nicolet compact four machine

29 early childhood IDA vs. 35 control

The early childhood IDA group had longer absolute latencies (ms) in wave I (1.64 ± 0.02 vs. 1.51 ± 0.02, p < 0.001), wave III (3.78 ± 0.03 vs. 3.63 ± 0.02, <em>p</em> < 0.001), and wave IV (5.7 ± 0.03 vs. 5.4 ± 0.03, <em>p</em>  0.001)

Visually evoked potentials

Nicolet compact four machine

40 early childhood IDA vs. 40 control

The early childhood IDA group had a longer P100 latency (ms) (104.7 ± 0.7 vs. 97.3 ± 0.7, p  0.001)

Angulo-Barroso et al.,33 2013 (cohort, Chile)

6, 12, and 18 months

Age 6 months: 15 mg/day ferrous sulfate for 1 year

Age 12 and 18 months: 30 mg/day for at least 6 months

Age 4 years

Motor activity during daytime sleep

Actigraph

23 early childhood IDA vs. 24 control

The early childhood IDA group had more leg movements in active sleep (3.5 movement units/15 min ± 3.9 vs. 2.0 movement units/15 min ± 1.6, p = 0.04)

Intra-individual variability in motor activity during daytime

Actigraph

23 early childhood IDA vs. 24 control

The early childhood IDA group had a larger IIV in active sleep compared to the controls (114.3 ± 69.3 vs. 83.4 ± 46.2, p = 0.04)

Chang et al.,25 2011 (cohort, China)

< 24 months

Food supplement (6 mg iron, 4.1 mg zinc, 385 calcium, 0.2 mg vitamin B12, 7 ug vitamin D, 3.8 g protein), vitamin A every 6 months

Age 4 years

Positive effect during delay of gratification

Designed the laboratory assessment

27 early childhood IDA vs. 64 control

Lower in the early childhood IDA group (4.7 ± 5.2 vs.11 ± 3.4, p  0.05)

70 corrected IDA vs. 64 control

Not significantly different (p > 0.05) between corrected IDA vs. control (9.7 ± 3.2 vs. 11 ± 3.4)

Frustration tolerance

Designed the laboratory assessment

27 early childhood IDA vs. 64 control

Lower in the early childhood IDA group (7.8 ± 11.4 vs. 24.8 ± 7.9, p  0.05)

70 corrected IDA vs. 64 control

Not significantly different (p > 0.05) between corrected IDA vs. control (21.1 ± 3.5 vs. 24.8 ± 7.9)

Passive behavior

Designed the laboratory assessment

27 early childhood IDA vs. 64 control

Higher in the early childhood IDA group (23 ± 6.6 vs. 14.8 ± 4.3, p  0.05)

70 corrected IDA vs. 64 control

Not significantly different (p > 0.05) between corrected IDA vs. control (18.1 ± 4.2 vs. 14.8 ± 4.3)

Congdon et al.,26 2012 (cohort, Chile)

6, 12, and 18 months

Age 6 months: 15 mg/day ferrous sulfate for 1 year

Age 12 and 18 months: 30 mg/day for at least 6 months

Age 10 years

Behavior

Reaction time first phase (ms)

50 early childhood IDA vs. 41 control

Early childhood IDA group was slower than the control (1,085 ms ± 176 vs. 1,003 ms ± 205, p = 0.044)

Reaction time second phase (ms)

49 early childhood IDA vs. 42 control

The article only stated that there is no significant difference and did not present exact numbers

Memory searching process

FN400 latency (ms)

49 early childhood IDA vs. 40 control

Early childhood IDA group was slower than the control (1,085 ms ± 176 vs. 1,003 ms ± 205, p = 0.044)

Neuronal process of wording

P300 amplitude

50 early childhood IDA vs. 42 control

Early childhood IDA is lower than control (presented by a figure in the article); there was a main effect of childhood IDA with electrode interaction, F(2.87) = 4,878, p = 0.030

Corapci et al.,27 2006 (cohort, Costa Rica)

12-23 months

IM iron or 3 mg/kg/day ferrous sulfate orally divided into two doses for 3 months

5 years

Positive effect

PARCHISY and EC-HOME

40 early childhood ID vs. 102 control

Control group is higher (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.22-0.86, p = 0.02)

Physical activity

PARCHISY and EC-HOME

40 early childhood ID vs. 102 control

Control group is higher (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.15-0.66, p = 0.01)

Verbalization

PARCHISY and EC-HOME

40 early childhood ID vs. 102 control

Control group is higher (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.18-0.81, p = 0.01)

Doom et al.,28 2018 (cohort, Chile)

12 and 18 months

No iron formula, high iron formula (12 mg/l), low iron formula (2.3 mg/l)

Age 11-17 years

Social problems

Youth self-report and child behavior checklist

Early childhood ID (310) and IDA (135) vs. control (545)

The early childhood ID group had greater social problems in adolescents (T-score contrast estimate = 2.71, 95% CI: 0.58-4.85, p = 0.01)

ADHD problems

Youth self-report and child behavior checklist

Early childhood ID (310) and IDA (135) vs. control (545)

The early childhood ID group had greater ADHD problems in adolescents (T-score contrast estimate = 2.63, 95% CI: 0.6-4.67, p = 0.01)

Oppositional defiant problems

Youth self-report and child behavior checklist

Early childhood ID (310) and IDA (135) vs. control (545)

The early childhood ID group had greater oppositional defiant problems in adolescents (T-score contrast estimate = 3.33, 95% CI: 1.35-5.31, p = 0.01)

Conduct problems

Youth self-report and child behavior checklist

Early childhood ID (310) and IDA (135) vs. control (545)

Early childhood ID has greater conduct problems in adolescents (T-score contrast estimate = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.02-0.08, p = 0.004)

Aggressive problems

Youth self-report and child behavior checklist

Early childhood ID (310) and IDA (135) vs. control (545)

The early childhood ID group had greater aggressive problems in adolescents (T-score contrast estimate = 3.86, 95% CI: 1.56-6.16, p = 0.001)

Rule-breaking problems

Youth self-report and child behavior checklist

Early childhood ID (310) and IDA (135) vs. control (545)

The early childhood ID group had greater rule-breaking problems in adolescents (T-score contrast estimate = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.01-0.07, p = 0.02)

PTSD problems

Youth self-report and child behavior checklist

Early childhood ID (310) and IDA (135) vs. control (545)

The early childhood ID group had greater PTSD problems in adolescents (T-score contrast estimate = 2.52, 95% CI: 0.22-4.83, p = 0.03)

East et al.,17 2017 (cohort, Chile)

6, 12, and 18 months

Iron supplementation is considered as a covariate

Age 5 years

Dull effect

CABI

Early childhood ID (248) vs. control (483)

Early childhood ID was not significantly related to dull effect at 5 years (beta = 0.06, B = 0.21, SE = 0.23)

Early childhood IDA (142) vs. control (483)

Early childhood IDA was significantly related to dull effect at 5 years (beta = 0.09, B = 0.5, SE = 0.26, p  0.05)

East et al.,18 2019 (cohort, Chile)

6, 12, and 18 months

Iron supplementation is considered as a covariate

Age 5 years

Dull effect at 5 years

CABI

Early childhood ID (254) and IDA (140) vs. control (481)

Early childhood ID was significantly related to dull effect at 5 years (beta = 0.1, B = 0.26, SE = 0.12, p  0.05)

Felt et al.,19 2012 (cohort, Chile)

6, 12, and 18 months

Oral iron 15 mg/day for 1 year for infants identified at 6 months; oral iron 30 mg/day for at least 6 months for children identified at 12 and 18 months

Age 10 years

Cortisol 30 min and 45 min after venipuncture

Electrochemiluminescence assays

Early childhood IDA at age 6 (13) vs. control (23)

The article only stated that there is no significant difference and did not present exact numbers

Early childhood IDA at age 12 (24) vs. control (23)

The early childhood IDA group at age 12 months had lower cortisol level significantly (30 min, 43.4 ± 13.5 mcg/dl vs. 97.8 ± 13.3 mcg/dl; 45 min, 36.4 ± 12.7 mcg/dl vs. 90.1 ± 12.5 mcg/dl) The curvature of the response pattern was significantly blunted for IDA-12 compared with the control (41.1 vs. -88.3, p  0.001)

Gunnarsson et al.,31 2007 (cohort, Iceland)

1 year

Not stated

Age 6 years

Fine motor score

Icelandic developmental inventory

Early childhood ID (10) vs. control (56)

Lower score in the early childhood ID group (46.7 ± 4.1 vs. 49.3 ± 2, p = 0.011)

Early childhood iron depletion (26) vs. control (40)

Lower score in the iron-depleted group (48 ± 3.3 vs. 49.5 ± 1.8, p = 0.045)

Hossain et al.,20 2023 (cohort, Bangladesh)

6-24 months

IDA, 30 mg iron syrup daily for 6 months; stimulation, weekly play sessions at home for 9 months using a curriculum designed in Jamaica

After 6 years (age 8-9 years)

FSIQ, combined from the PRI and the VCI

WASI-II

Early childhood IDA with stimulation (102) vs. non-anemic with stimulation (92)

Lower FSIQ in the early childhood IDA group (63.1 ± 7.2 vs. 65.7 ± 7), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

Early childhood IDA no stimulation (94) vs. non-anemic with no stimulation (84)

Lower FSIQ int he early childhood IDA group (62.2 ± 6.1 vs. 62.8 ± 6.5), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

PRI

WASI-II

Early childhood IDA with stimulation (102) vs. non-anemic with stimulation (92)

Lower PRI int he early childhood IDA group (71.8 ± 7.6 vs. 74.4 ± 8.2), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

Early childhood IDA no stimulation (94) vs. non-anemic with no stimulation (84)

Lower PRI in the early childhood IDA group (70.2 ± 7.4 vs. 71 ± 7.6), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

VCI

WASI-II

Early childhood IDA with stimulation (102) vs. non-anemic with stimulation (92)

Lower VCI in the early childhood IDA group (57.4 ± 10.3 vs. 61.3 ± 10.5), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

Early childhood IDA no stimulation (94) vs. non-anemic with no stimulation (84)

Lower VCI in the early childhood IDA group (58.2 ± 8.3 vs. 58.5 ± 8.2), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

Word reading

Wide Range Achievement test

Early childhood IDA with stimulation (102) vs. non-anemic with stimulation (92)

Lower word reading in the early childhood IDA group (88.1 ± 24.5 vs. 96.5 ± 22.6), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

Early childhood IDA no stimulation (94) vs. non-anemic with no stimulation (84)

Lower word reading in the early childhood IDA group (91.5 ± 23 vs. 92.5 ± 21.9), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

Word spelling

Wide Range Achievement test

Early childhood IDA with stimulation (102) vs. non-anemic with stimulation (92)

Lower word spelling in the early childhood IDA group (80.8 ± 22.9 vs. 89.8 ± 21.4), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

Early childhood IDA no stimulation (94) vs. non-anemic with no stimulation (84)

Lower word spelling in the early childhood IDA group (83 ± 21.3 vs. 88.2 ± 20.8), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

Math computation

Wide Range Achievement test

Early childhood IDA with stimulation (102) vs. non-anemic with stimulation (92)

Lower math computation in the early childhood IDA group (74 ± 14.8 vs. 80.6 ± 14.6), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

Early childhood IDA no stimulation (94) vs. non-anemic with no stimulation (84)

Lower math computation in the early childhood IDA group (77 ± 17.2 vs. 78 ± 16.5), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

-

-

-

-

Motor development

MABC-2

Early childhood IDA with stimulation (102) vs. non-anemic with stimulation (92)

Lower motor development in the early childhood IDA group (24 ± 6.8 vs. 25.2 ± 6.9), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significancy not reported)

-

-

MABC-2

Early childhood IDA no stimulation (94) vs. non-anemic with no stimulation (84)

Higher motor development in the early childhood IDA group (22.6 ± 7.6 vs. 22 ± 7.1), analysis of variance not performed between the IDA and non-anemic groups (significances not reported)

Hua et al.,21 2023 (cohort, China)

9 months

Iron therapy was given but not clearly described

Age 8-9 years

Behavioral performance (overall accuracy)

Computer-based behavioral task

Early childhood ID at 9 months (24) vs. control (27)

Lower in the early childhood ID group (beta-coefficient = -0.08; 95% CI: -0.12–-0.04)

Lozoff et al.,15 1991 (cohort, Costa Rica)

12-23 months

Iron therapy was given but not clearly described

Age 5 years

Gross motor

Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency

Early childhood IDA (30) vs. control (64)

Lower in the early childhood IDA group (52.1 ± 14.3 vs. 57.7 ± 13.3, p  0.05)

ID corrected (50) vs. control (64)

Higher in the early childhood ID-corrected group (62.1 ± 12.7 vs. 57.7 ± 13.3, not significant p > 0.05)

Fine motor

Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency

Early childhood IDA (30) vs. control (64)

Lower in the early childhood IDA group (37 ± 11.6 vs. 41.9 ± 11, p  0.05)

ID corrected (50) vs. control (64)

Higher in the early childhood ID-corrected group (43.9 ± 10.3 vs. 41.9 ± 11, not significant p > 0.05)

Verbal IQ

WPPSI

Early childhood IDA (30) vs. control (64)

Lower in the early childhood IDA group (101.1 ± 13.3 vs. 101.8 ± 12.3, not significant p > 0.05)

ID corrected (50) vs. control (64)

Higher in the early childhood ID-corrected group (105.6 ± 11.9 vs. 101.8 ± 12.3, not significant p > 0.05)

Performance IQ

WPPSI

Early childhood IDA (30) vs. control (64)

Lower in the early childhood IDA group (98.9 ± 12.1 vs. 105.2 ± 11.2, p  0.05)

ID corrected (50) vs. control (64)

Lower in the early childhood ID corrected group (105.1 ± 10.7 vs. 105.2 ± 11.2, not significant)

FSIQ

WPPSI

Early childhood IDA (30) vs. control (64)

Lower in the early childhood IDA group (100 ± 12.1 vs. 103.8 ± 11.3, p > 0.05)

ID corrected (50) vs. control (64)

Lower in the early childhood ID-corrected group (105.9 ± 10.9 vs. 103.8 ± 11.3, not significant p > 0.05)

McCarthy et al.,22 2021 (cohort, Ireland)

At birth

Not stated

Age 5 years

Internal problems

CBCL

Early childhood ID at birth (45) vs. control (534)

Higher in the early childhood ID group [7 (2.5-12) vs. 5 (3-9.3), not significant p = 0.089]

External problems

CBCL

Early childhood ID at birth (45) vs. control (534)

Higher in the early childhood ID group [7 (4-12.5) vs. 5 (2-10), p = 0.018]

Total problems

CBCL

Early childhood ID at birth (45) vs. control (534)

Higher in the early childhood ID group [21 (14-35) vs. 17 (9-29), not significant p = 0.054]

TABLE 3. Continued

Study

Age diagnosed

Iron therapy

Follow-up

Outcome

Measurement

Test subject

Result

-

-

-

-

Verbal knowledge

KBIT-2

Early childhood ID at birth (37) vs. control (499)

Lower in the early childhood ID group [101 (99-105) vs. 109 (101-114), not significant p = 0.254]

Non-verbal knowledge

KBIT-2

Early childhood ID at birth (37) vs. control (500)

Lower in the early childhood ID group [97 (94-100) vs. 100 (94-104), not significant p = 0.320]

IQ composite

KBIT-2

Early childhood ID at birth (37) vs. control (497)

Lower in the early childhood ID group [101 (99-105) vs. 104 (99-110), not significant p = 0.070]

Shafir et al.,34 2006 (cohort, Costa Rica)

12-23 months

Iron therapy was given but not clearly described

Age 5-12 years

Motor scores

Bruininks-Oseretsky

Early childhood ID (53) vs. control (132)

Early childhood ID group has lower motor score across all age (5-12 years), p  0.001

Thorisdottir et al.23 2013 (cohort, Iceland)

12 months

Not stated

Age 6 years

Gross motor

Icelandic-Developmental Inventory

Early childhood iron depletion (6) vs. control (102)

Lower in the early childhood iron-depleted group (adjusted mean diff -2.9, 95% CI: -6.9, 1.1), not significant p = 0.152

Fine motor

Icelandic-Developmental Inventory

Early childhood iron depletion (6) vs. control (102)

Lower in the early childhood iron-depleted group (adjusted mean diff -0.2, 95% CI: -2.6, 2.3), not significant p = 0.896

Self-help

Icelandic-Developmental Inventory

Early childhood iron depletion (6) vs. control (102)

Lower in the early childhood iron-depleted group (adjusted mean diff -4, 95% CI: -7.4, -0.7, p = 0.019)

Comprehension

Icelandic-Developmental Inventory

Early childhood iron depletion (6) vs. control (102)

Lower in the early childhood iron-depleted group (adjusted mean diff -0.7, 95% CI: -3.6, 2.1), not significant p = 0.612

Expression

Icelandic-Developmental Inventory

Early childhood iron depletion (6) vs. control (102)

Higher in the early childhood iron-depleted group (adjusted mean diff 1.1, 95% CI: -2, 4.1), not significant p = 0.493

Learning

Icelandic-Developmental Inventory

Early childhood iron depletion (6) vs. control (102)

Higher in the early childhood iron-depleted group (adjusted mean diff 0.7, 95% CI: -5.4, 6.7), not significant p = 0.831

Motor, combined

Icelandic-Developmental Inventory

Early childhood iron depletion (6) vs. control (102)

Lower in the early childhood iron-depleted group (adjusted mean diff -5.5, 95% CI: -11.1, 0.03), not significant p = 0.051

Verbal, combined

Icelandic-Developmental Inventory

Early childhood iron depletion (6) vs. control (102)

Lower in the early childhood iron-depleted group (adjusted mean diff -0.3, 95% CI: -8.3, 7.7), not significant p = 0.939

Total developmental index

Icelandic-Developmental Inventory

Early childhood iron depletion (6) vs. control (102)

Lower in the early childhood iron-depleted group (adjusted mean diff -2.6, 95% CI: -8.1, 2.8), not significant p = 0.336

Yehuda and Yehuda,24 2006 (cohort, Israel)

12 months

Not stated

Age 10 years

Auditory function

Auditory test

Early childhood ID (17) vs. control (17)

Both groups showed normal function (hearing threshold < 20 dB)

FSIQ

WISC revised

Early childhood ID (17) vs. control (17)

Lower in the early childhood ID group (96.7 ± 2.1 vs. 105.1 ± 1.3, significant p = 0.001)

Verbal IQ

WISC

Early childhood ID (17) vs. control (17)

Lower in the early childhood ID group (99.1 ± 2.4 vs. 104.5 ± 1.8, significant p = 0.05)

Performance IQ

WISC

Early childhood ID (17) vs. control (17)

Lower in the early childhood ID group (95.9 ± 2.2 vs. 104.9 ± 2.4, significant p = 0.001)

Behavioral: appetite

5-point rating scale

Early childhood ID (17) vs. control (17)

Lower in the early childhood ID group (3.5 ± 0.6 vs. 4.9 ± 0.7, not significant p > 0.05)

Behavioral: good mood

5-point rating scale

Early childhood ID (17) vs. control (17)

Lower in the early childhood ID group (3.8 ± 0.8 vs. 4.8 ± 0.8, not significant p > 0.05)

Behavioral: ability to concentrate

5-point rating scale

Early childhood ID (17) vs. control (17)

Lower in the early childhood ID group (3.5 ± 0.6 vs. 4.7 ± 0.5, not significant p > 0.05)

Behavioral: fatigue during the day

5-point rating scale

Early childhood ID (17) vs. control (17)

Lower in the early childhood ID group (3 ± 0.5 vs. 4.5 ± 0.8, significant p = 0.05)

Behavioral: organizing academic materials

5-point rating scale

Early childhood ID (17) vs. control (17)

Lower in the early childhood ID group (4 ± 0.6 vs. 4.8 ± 0.6, not significant p > 0.05)

Behavioral: quality of sleep

Early childhood ID (17) vs. control (17)

Lower in the early childhood ID group (3.1 ± 1.3 vs. 4.8 ± 1, significant p = 0.05),

Morning saliva cortisol levels

Radioimmunoassay

Early childhood ID (17) vs. control (17)

Higher in the early childhood ID group (2.8 ± 0.4 nmol/l vs. 2.5 ± 0.7 nmol/l, significant p = 0.001)

ID, iron deficiency; IDA, iron deficiency anemia; PARCHISY, Parent-Child Interaction System; EC-HOME, Early Childhood version of the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder; CABI, Children Adaptive Behavior Inventory; FSIQ, Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient, PRI, Performance Reasoning Index; VCI, Verbal Comprehension Index; WASI, Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence; MABC, Movement Assessment Battery for Children; WPPSI, Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence; CBCL, Child Behavior Checklist; KBIT, Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test; WISC, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.