Improvements in cognitive performance for schoolchildren in Zaire, Africa, following an iron supplement and treatment for intestinal parasites.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Iron in this randomized controlled trial publication.

Tested 47 first-year primary school children at a mission school in rural Zaire for cognitive ability with the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) adopted to the language of Kituba.

All of the children were again evaluated medically and cognitively 4 weeks after the initiation of treatment.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 30 children were involved.

The age groups tagged for this paper are children, both men and women.

Within a day of this test, each child was evaluated for blood hemoglobin (Hgb) level and the presence of intestinal parasites.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized and placebo-controlled study.

The children were allocated by chance, so the Iron group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Some children received a placebo instead of Iron, giving a reference point.

What Was Measured

Tested 47 first-year primary school children at a mission school in rural Zaire for cognitive ability with the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) adopted to the language of Kituba.

All of the children were again evaluated medically and cognitively 4 weeks after the initiation of treatment.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Anemia, Hypochromic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Developing Countries, Educational Status, Hookworm Infections, Intelligence and Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and placebo-controlled study of Iron in 30 children.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 1993 (Journal of pediatric psychology), a journal based in United States.

More context: all human trials.