Women with ADD - Iron deficiency

[Brianne]

Just wanted to share this with the women. Its something to look into a bit if you think your iron maybe low. Also for the younger women, anemia is very common so don't think that because your young this doesn't apply to you!

The relationship between iron status and cognition in iron sufficient (CN), iron deficient (ID), and iron deficient anemic (IDA) women was examined using a blinded, placebo controlled intervention trial. Eight computerized cognitive performance tasks from the Detterman's Cognitive Abilities Test were administered at baseline and again after 16 weeks of consuming iron supplements or a placebo. The tasks involved 3 domains that build on one another: attention, memory, and learning which test Detterman's Modal Model of information processing. Baseline testing was completed by 149 women (42 CN, 73 ID, 34 IDA) while 113 women (30 CN, 53 ID, 30 IDA) completed the entire study. Cross-sectional ANCOVAs revealed that iron status is related to attention and memory in adult women. Performance was significantly better and time to achieve the tasks was significantly shorter in the women with the highest iron status compared to the women with the lowest iron status. Performance was affected even in the absence of anemia while time to complete the tasks was related to the level of anemia present. Repeated measures ANCOVA revealed an improvement in performance as well as time to complete the attention, memory, and learning tasks for those women who improved their iron status over time. This study demonstrates that iron status is related to information processing in adult women.

[MRB]

Whoa, Bri -- I had my suspicions. Thanks thanks thanks for posting this - this is an extra incentive to remember to take my supplements.

[Brianne]

Your very welcome MRB glad to help!

[krisp]

Thanks for the reminder! I have a tendency to be very anemic (and very scatter-brained). The anemia can't be helping matters any. Now I just have to remember to take the iron pills....

[Jeffrey]

Here's another article you might find interesting....I noticed you were discussing this and remembered seeing it.

April 20, 2004
"Mild Iron Deficiency Lowers Cognitive Function In Women
Iron deficiency that is so mild that it doesn't cause anemia still reduces cognitive function in women.

Young women who took iron supplementation for 16 weeks significantly improved their attention, short-term and long-term memory, and their performance on cognitive tasks, even though many were not considered to be anemic when the study began, according to researchers at Pennsylvania State University....."

The entire article can be found here:
http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/002058.html

[Brianne]

Thanks Jeffery!

[Jeffrey]

My pleasure!

[cdo]

Originally Posted by Brianne

Just wanted to share this with the women. Its something to look into a bit if you think your iron maybe low. Also for the younger women, anemia is very common so don't think that because your young this doesn't apply to you!

The relationship between iron status and cognition in iron sufficient (CN), iron deficient (ID), and iron deficient anemic (IDA) women was examined using a blinded, placebo controlled intervention trial. Eight computerized cognitive performance tasks from the Detterman's Cognitive Abilities Test were administered at baseline and again after 16 weeks of consuming iron supplements or a placebo. The tasks involved 3 domains that build on one another: attention, memory, and learning which test Detterman's Modal Model of information processing. Baseline testing was completed by 149 women (42 CN, 73 ID, 34 IDA) while 113 women (30 CN, 53 ID, 30 IDA) completed the entire study. Cross-sectional ANCOVAs revealed that iron status is related to attention and memory in adult women. Performance was significantly better and time to achieve the tasks was significantly shorter in the women with the highest iron status compared to the women with the lowest iron status. Performance was affected even in the absence of anemia while time to complete the tasks was related to the level of anemia present. Repeated measures ANCOVA revealed an improvement in performance as well as time to complete the attention, memory, and learning tasks for those women who improved their iron status over time. This study demonstrates that iron status is related to information processing in adult women.

Thanks so much for telling us about this -- I've always run a bit low on iron. I'm going out to get my supplements today!

[Brianne]

No problem!

[TracyC]

I just saw this topic and couldn't believe it! I've been anemic off and on since I was 17, I'm now almost 44. On Memorial Day I really crashed....passed out several times and extremely weak all day. Went to the doc the next day, had my blood checked and I was severely anemic. I've taken a presciption iron pill everyday since. Also, I've had this thing called Restless Leg Syndrome....it's been hard for me to get to sleep at night due to my legs being jumpy. This is also brought on by iron defiency. I hardly have this problem now. Just thought I'd share this.

[dixiepeep]

that makes me think twice. I am a blood donor

[FlakeyGirl]

I never thought about that. Must blood donors be iron-sufficient?

[Brianne]

Oh wow I knew this was a good topic to start glad I did!

Flakey, you know I have never thought about that myself.............I have never been able to give blood because I don't weigh enough. I learned how to draw blood in college but they never said anything about that. Maybe because we test the blood not take it from donators. So, when you find out let us know. Just because I can't give blood now doesn't mean I won't want to someday. Esp if I am they same type as my mother.

[FlakeyGirl]

Me neither, exept when pregnant and then I couldn't for that reason. I'd like to but if I am dq'd on the anemia thing too....

[NightStar]

I am glad that I found this post, I knew years ago when I was pregnant that I was Iron deficient, but afterwards I stopped taking Iron pills,

I will definitely give this a try, as well as my husband since he does have Restless Leg Syndrome - would be great to see if this helps him.

Thanks all,