Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37368919›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2023

Effects of iron supplementation on cognitive development in school-age children: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Befikadu Tariku Gutema, Muluken Bekele Sorrie, Nega Degefa Megersa, Gesila Endashaw Yesera, Yordanos Gizachew Yeshitila, Nele S Pauwels, Stefaan De Henauw, Souheila Abbeddou

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
14.8field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 52 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Befikadu Tariku GutemaSchool of Public Health, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.ORCID 0000-0003-0574-6074
Muluken Bekele SorrieSchool of Public Health, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
Nega Degefa MegersaSchool of Nursing, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
Gesila Endashaw YeseraSchool of Nursing, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
Yordanos Gizachew YeshitilaSchool of Nursing, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
Nele S PauwelsKnowledge Centre for Health Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Stefaan De HenauwPublic Health Nutrition Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Souheila AbbeddouPublic Health Nutrition Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-1363-0170
Arba Minch University · ETGhent University · BEGhent University Hospital · BE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIron deficiency is negatively associated with children's cognitive development. Evidence showed that iron supplementation improves cognitive development. Nearly 50% of anemia is caused by iron deficiency. Anemia affects more school-age children, at an age where their brain development continues. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to review the evidence from published randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effects of iron supplementation on cognitive development and function among school-age children.

methodFive databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science and CENTRAL were used to search for articles on April 20th, 2021. The search was reconducted on October 13th, 2022 to retrieve new records. Studies were eligible if they included school children 6-12 years of age, were randomized controlled trials, and if they tested iron supplementation and measured cognitive development.

resultThirteen articles were included in the systematic review. Overall, iron supplementation significantly improved intelligence (standardized mean difference, 95% confidence interval) (SMD 0.46, 95%CI: 0.19, 0.73, P<0.001), attention and concentration (SMD 0.44, 95%CI: 0.07, 0.81, P = 0.02) and memory (SMD 0.44, 95%CI: 0.21, 0.67, P <0.001) of school-age children. There was no significant effect of iron supplementation on school achievement of school-age children (SMD 0.06, 95%CI: -0.15, 0.26, P = 0.56). In a subgroup analysis, iron-supplemented children who were anemic at baseline had had better outcomes of intelligence (SMD 0.79, 95%CI: 0.41, 1.16, P = 0.001) and memory (SMD 0.47, 95%CI: 0.13, 0.81; P = 0.006).

conclusionIron supplementation has a significant positive effect on the intelligence, attention and concentration, and the memory of school-age children but there was no evidence on the effect of iron supplementation on their school achievement.

Indexed as

AnemiaIron DeficienciesChildCognitionDietary SupplementsHumansIronRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicIron

Identifiers

PMID37368919
PMCPMC10298800
OpenAlexW4382237371

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.