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Poor infant nutrition, including iron deficiency, is associated with later intellectual and behavioral impairments (see, e.g., Journal Watch Psychiatry Jul 24 2003). The current researchers longitudinally examined socioeconomic status (SES), iron levels, and cognition among 185 healthy, normal-birth-weight singleton babies (age range, 12–23 months) recruited from a Costa Rican urban community.
Follow-up through age 19 years was accomplished for 78%. Iron deficiency was defined as serum ferritin levels below 12 ng/mL plus abnormal results on another iron measure. Healthy iron levels were defined as hemoglobin levels of at least 12 g/dL plus normal values on other iron tests. At study entry, 53 children had severe chronic iron deficiency in in…