Brain iron: a lesson from animal models

Article Abstract:

Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional problem in the world. Behavioral symptoms of ID include irritability, fatigue, poor attention span, inability to concentrate, apathy and, in some individuals, decreased intelligence quotient (IQ). Researchers have found it difficult to study the effects of ID on behavior in humans because so many other factors which cannot be controlled also influence behavior. Instead, ID was induced in rats which were used as an animal model. A variety of behavioral changes were observed and attributed to ID. The circadian (daily) rhythms of motor activity and biting behavior were disturbed. Body temperature regulation was altered and pain threshold rose; greater degrees of pain were required to elicit a response. Rats with even marginal ID showed inferior capacity to learn how to get through a maze. When iron was given to the rats with ID, memory and learning deficits persisted, even as other behavioral abnormalities were successfully reversed. All the changes were apparently due to decreased dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that sends messages from nerves to body cells. The rats also underwent brain surgery and were given certain drugs which strongly suggested that ID alters behavior by way of the dopamine system. The authors concluded that the rat was an excellent animal model for studying iron deficiency.

Cognition disorders, Cognitive disorders

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Putative biological mechanisms of the effect of iron deficiency on brain biochemistry and behavior

Article Abstract:

Many research studies have addressed the question of whether iron deficiency (ID) affects behavior, particularly in children. ID is the most common nutritional problem in the world. Studies have recently established that ID can cause abnormal behavior and reduced learning and mental functioning in children. Scientists surmised that ID must alter behavior by way of the brain, since the brain ultimately regulates behavior. Rats were chosen as an animal model in which to study ID and the brain. In rats, ID reduced one form of iron in the brain. It appeared that a result of the diminished brain iron was a reduction of neurotransmission. Neurotransmission is the process of sending messages from the brain to various parts of the body; the messages are carried in the blood by neurotransmitters. In this study a specific neurotransmitter called dopamine was affected. The dopamine neurons, nerve cells, were damaged and, as a result, behaviors dependent on dopamine were altered. The most significant behavioral change was a decrease in learning. The authors conclude that ID occurring in young children, when the brain is still developing, may permanently damage the cells responsible for learning. If this is true, ID in children could have lifelong consequences. The authors remarked that the rat appeared to be a very good model for studying human iron deficiency.

Learning, Psychology of, Learning theory (Psychology)

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Preliminary findings on iron supplementation and learning achievement of rural Indonesian children

Article Abstract:

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) reduces the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen to body tissues. Research studies have demonstrated a relationship between IDA and poor cognitive or mental and behavioral performance in infants, children and adults. One study in Indonesia found that iron supplementation with ferrous sulfate also improved the growth rate and reduced illness in children. In this study, 130 Indonesian school children were evaluated using blood tests. They were classified as either anemic or nonanemic. They were then assigned at random to receive either ferrous sulfate therapy or placebos, inactive substances, for three months. Data on blood iron levels, growth, and school achievement were compared from before treatment to after treatment. The anemic children who received ferrous sulfate showed evidence of improved learning and achievement in four different school subjects. Nonanemic children who received ferrous sulfate also improved in two subjects. The authors suggest that the test scores could be further improved if socioeconomic and sanitation conditions were raised as well. In this region, worm infestation is a common public health problem that exacerbates IDA, and could be reduced by better sanitation practices.

Health aspects, Care and treatment, Evaluation, Drug therapy, Indonesia, Iron compounds, Ferrous sulfate, Nutrition disorders in children

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