Response

Abstract

The ferrous sulfate and placebo tablets were identical (inside and outside), and the dark color of the stools, because of iron (verum) or carbon (placebo), was also identical. Pierre Fabre Industry has manufactured placebo tablets in accordance with our previous suggestions (regarding the taste of tablets and color of stools). Emphatically, the placebo and iron sulfate tablets were strictly identical. Adverse events (such as abdominal pain) were reported in 2 of 5 children (40%) in the placebo group, and in only 2 of 18 children (11%) in the iron group. To the EditorPediatric NeurologyVol. 39Issue 1PreviewI read with interest the study by Konofal et al. assessing the efficacy of oral iron for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children with low ferritin levels [1]. This was a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. The group treated with iron exhibited a greater reduction in signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder on 2 of the 3 rating scales used for assessment. If a beneficial effect of iron therapy in this context is confirmed, this finding could be important, because it suggests that iron deficiency may be a contributing factor in the etiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Full-Text PDF