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helm t1_j248ms6 wrote

LMIC means "low- and middle-income countries". It has not been shown that extra iron for kids in rich countries would provide benefits.

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kallicks t1_j251bx3 wrote

Just because there is wealth in a country does not mean parents are going to use those resources appropriately for their kids.

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helm t1_j253yc7 wrote

Right. However, the nutrition problems look different at the population level.

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CaptainJonJon t1_j25esrd wrote

We're talking about stuff that's already been verified in these different types of countries. In fact its rich countries that have a problem with too much iron intake from a combination of meat, fortified foods, and multi vitamins and plain iron vitamins.

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Nigelwethers t1_j23qu6n wrote

A whole lot of people who aren't skeptical enough are gonna find themselves constipated.

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Coders32 t1_j288zyw wrote

In this case, it’s a misunderstanding of demographics and results probably not translating to other populations. I acknowledge skepticism is a nice shortcut to not needing that understanding though

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Wagamaga OP t1_j23jbhm wrote

IRON intake was shown to have a positive effect on intelligence scores in children and adolescents from low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), in a new meta-analysis and systematic review.

The demonstrated effect was shown to increase with supplement dosage, with researchers highlighting that the “results suggest that oral iron intake can improve the cognitive development of children and adolescents living in LMICs.”

Researchers from Tsinghua University, Harvard University, Duke University, and the University of Southern California report their findings in Nutrients.

Due to the critical biological and physical development processes taking place throughout childhood and adolescence, it is vital to ensure a strong nutritional profile during this period to prevent deficiencies. However, iron deficiencies are highly common during this age because of the bodies’ inability to increase iron reserves with increased demand.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/iron-supplementation-is-beneficial-for-intelligence/

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Hyval_the_Emolga t1_j259ljr wrote

So this doesn’t say anything about kids in higher income countries. Is this making up for a deficiency in the body that they don’t suffer from or would it be effective in US/EU/etc ?

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MrBwnrrific t1_j27i9b4 wrote

That’s a key point here. It’s pretty well known that malnutrition as an ill effect on childhood cognitive development, so it tracks the opposite would be seen if those kids were getting nutrition they previously lacked

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Hyval_the_Emolga t1_j28sx2s wrote

I feel the need to relate this to the rise in IQ from the introduction of iodized salt somehow

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grundar t1_j25e97y wrote

Interesting; looking at Table 2:

  • Significant effect only for age >11
  • Significant effect only for males (surprising; I expected the reverse due to menstruation)
  • Significant effect only for higher-dose, longer-duration
  • Significant effect even if non-anemic (surprising)
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SlouchyGuy t1_j282sd3 wrote

I thought anemia is not necessarily corellated with amount of iron - you can have a normal blood count, but be iron deficient, hense a separate test for iron?

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louise_mcsass t1_j27juwq wrote

Wait. So, the Iron Kids People were right?

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luckymethod t1_j24zzvi wrote

Does that work for kids who hate eating meat?

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gerberag t1_j26os0b wrote

It costs in brain degeneration in old age.

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