How iron deficiency in pre-adolescent children can affect learning

Recently, physicians are spotting a phenomenon that many parents are missing: the prevalence of iron deficiency in pre-adolescent kids. At least two out of five children who enter their pre-teen years today are already suffering from iron deficiency. Not only does this nutritional deficit affect a child in terms of their physical well-being, it also affects the child’s ability to concentrate during their important learning years at school.

Besides providing energy for physical activities, iron is an essential nutrient that helps children pay attention and concentrate while they study at school. Identifying and addressing this issue will help parents take precautions much early.

Why is iron important

In neurology terms, iron is the basic building block of a healthy and functioning brain. Iron serves as the main transport system that ensures delivery of oxygen to neurons, and participates actively in the creation of neurotransmitters, which are responsible for controlling mood, memory, and focused attention.

When a child does not get enough iron, the child’s brain works on an ‘empty battery’ principle. Brain structures responsible for performing various executive functions, such as working memory, inhibition, and logical thinking, are highly dependent on sufficient oxygen supply. Therefore, a child ends up being unable to process information effectively, resulting in growing frustration in class and at home.

Challenges with diagnosis

In contrast to anaemia which comes with definite symptoms such as very pale skin, cold hands, and intense weakness, iron deficiency in older kids can be extremely tricky and difficult to identify because it does not come with visible physical symptoms at all. Rather, it comes disguised as simple laziness, mood swings, or loss of interest in studies. When a nine-year-old finds it hard to concentrate while sitting or fails to concentrate when doing his homework or appears distracted in class, the first instinct of the adults around him is that he is playing too much or does not get enough sleep or is simply being rebellious.

Another challenge lies in the fact that routine doctor visits stop after toddlerhood. As soon as the child hits 7–10 years old, their visits to the doctor are few and far between. After going through the rigors of vaccinations in early childhood, growth check-ups for toddlers, and sicknesses in pre-schoolers, family thinks there is little need to visit the clinic. Visits to doctors in this transitional age are done only if there is an acute disease, injury, or required sports physical examination. Due to this long absence from preventive care, most parents fail to notice the early indicators of iron deficiency.

To add to the challenge, dietary patterns change during the time period leading up to adolescence. Kids between the ages of 7 to 10 become increasingly independent in their diet, often choosing more processed foods that do not contain any easily absorbable iron.

What parents need to know

To combat this situation, there has to be a significant change in the way wellness in late childhood years is addressed by families. Regular visits to a health practitioner during the pre-adolescent age can ensure physical examinations are carried out that will be able to detect reduced nutrient levels, and early diagnosis can help prevent these deficiencies from having an effect on children’s learning abilities and emotional development.

In addition, by focusing on such health check-ups, promoting healthy diets, especially foods rich in iron, such as dark leafy greens, pulses, and lean meats, families can protect their children both physically and mentally even before the tough adolescent years start.

(Dr. Harshini Bhat is a consultant paediatrician and paediatric intensivist, Motherhood Hospitals, Banashankari, Bengaluru. Drharshinibhat@gmail.com)