Abstract
The aim was to identify the association of iron status with educational performance and intelligence of adolescents. This was a cross sectional comparative study among adolescents aged 13-15 years. Each iron deficient student was matched with an iron sufficient student from the same school, class and sex. Iron status was based on haemoglobin and serum ferritin levels. The marks for mathematics, science, Sinhala language and social science were considered to assess educational performance. Intelligence was measured by Raven's Standard progressive matrices. All the possible confounders and effect modifiers were considered. Home visits to a sub-sample checked the quality of data. The final analysis included 188 students (94 matched pairs). Neither educational performance nor intelligence showed significant associations with the iron status. The severity of the iron deficiency did not relate to these cognitive variables either. Twenty-three and 8 co-variables showed statistically significant associations with educational performance and intelligence respectively. Following a multiple regression analysis intelligence, the enthusiasm of the student towards learning, occupational ambition, household possession, problems at home and private tuition for mathematics were key factors predicting educational performance. Stunting and educational level of the mother were important factors influencing intelligence. Iron status does not play a major role in educational performance and intelligence of school going adolescents. Several factors affect educational performance and intelligence. This study highlights the difficulty in extrapolating the findings of similar studies to different ecological settings.
Highlights
The aim was to identify the association of iron status with educational performance and intelligence of adolescents
Iron status does not play a major role in educational performance and intelligence of school going adolescents
This study highlights the difficulty in extrapolating the findings of similar studies to different ecological settings
Summary
The aim was to identify the association of iron status with educational performance and intelligence of adolescents. Many studies have been carried out to find the association between iron deficiency and cognitive functions in infants and children. There have been studies with controversial conclusions. The generalisability of these research findings to other ecological settings is doubtful. No study has been done in Sri Lanka to find the relationship between iron status and cognitive functions. Adolescents are a group prone to iron deficiency. Since iron deficiency is correctable, establishing its association with cognitive functions is important. This study was a cross sectional comparative study to determine the association of iron deficiency with educational performance and intelligence among a group of Sri Lankan adolescents
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