1-171 - On the Timing of Early Iron Deficiency: Associations with Postnatal Development in Humans, Nonhuman Primates, and Rodents

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Iron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent single-nutrient disorder (WHO, 2008). Pregnant women and infants are disproportionately at risk for experiencing ID. The increased risk for ID among these individuals is non-trivial, as ID exerts significant effects on neurodevelopment and behavior. The majority of the studies conducted with the human infant has focused on postnatal dietary ID. This symposium includes four papers that examine early ID in relation to postnatal functioning from a cross-species perspective (human infant, monkey, and rodent). Paper 1 indicates that prenatal (but not postnatal) ID in human infants is associated with recognition memory deficits at 9 months. Paper 2 extends these findings in another human sample by indicating that prenatal (but not combined prenatal-postnatal or postnatal only) ID is related to reduced 10-minute delayed recall memory at 9 months. The final two papers examine issues associated with the timing of early ID using animal models that allow for active manipulation of iron status at different points in ontogeny. Paper 3 reports that an experimental iron-restricted diet during pregnancy in nonhuman primates caused deficits in cognitive and social-emotional processing after birth. Paper 4 shows that iron therapy after birth improved neurotransmitter effects of prenatal ID in a rodent model, but alterations in striatal-based grooming behavior were still apparent in adulthood. In sum, prenatal ID was associated with postnatal development in all species. These findings have significant implications for infant health and development, as there are currently no recommendations in place for screening or treating prenatal ID.

Sub Unit

• Health, Growth, Injury

Chair

• Angela F Lukowski, University of California, Irvine

Individual Presentations

• Fetal-Neonatal and Postnatal Iron Deficiency Impairs Recognition Memory - Presenting Author: Fengji Geng, Univ of Maryland; Betsy Lozoff, MD, Univ of Michigan

• Prenatal Iron Deficiency and Recall Memory at 9 Months - Presenting Author: Angela F Lukowski, University of California, Irvine; Ming Li, Department of Pediatrics; Zhixiang Zhang, Peking University First Hospital; Betsy Lozoff, MD, Univ of Michigan

• Nonhuman Primate Model for Fetal Iron Deficiency and Its Consequences - Presenting Author: Mari Golub, Univ of California Davis

• Rat Stereotypic Behavior Depends on Time and Dose of Iron Treatment for Developmental Iron Deficiency Anemia - Presenting Author: Barbara T. Felt, MD, University of Michigan Hospital; Amy Hurst, University of Michigan; Niko Kaciroti, University of Michigan; Betsy Lozoff, MD, Univ of Michigan; Erica Unger, Lebanon Valley College