Iron profile in children with behavioural disorders: a prospective study in a tertiary care hospital in north India.

Iron deficiency anemia is the most frequent micronutrient deficiency in the developing countries like India especially affecting pregnant women and young children. Iron is an essential element involved in myelin formation, neurotransmitter synthesis and neuro-metabolism. Several behavioural disturbances have been reported in iron deficient children. In the present study, we determined the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in children with behavioural disorders and assessed the improvement in terms of symptoms (by child behaviour check list), haematological parameters and iron status after treatment with oral iron. In this prospective study, 44 children in the age group of 3-12 years who were diagnosed with behavioural disorders were evaluated. Complete blood counts using automated hematology analyzer and iron parameters (serum iron, total iron binding capacity, % transferrin saturation and serum ferritin) were measured in all the patients to assess the prevalence of iron deficiency in these children. Thirty age matched controls were also studied. Iron deficiency was found in 32 (73%) children, as assessed by transferrin saturation <16% and/or serum ferritin <16 μg/l. Following treatment with iron for 100 ± 10 days, there was a statistically (P ≤ 0.05) significant improvement in the clinical features, haematological profile and iron status. The presence of iron deficiency in children with behavioural disorders and subsequent improvement in clinical features, haematological profile and iron status suggests a possible causal relationship between iron deficiency and behavioural disorders.