Early iron deficiency anemia and later mental retardation

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Abstract
The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) has dropped significantly in the United States during the past 3 decades (1, 2). The third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–1994) showed that for both sexes combined (n = 1339) the prevalence of IDA was ≤3% for children aged 1–2 y and <1% for children aged 3–5 y. This decline was found among middle- and low-income children, although there was significant variability among minority groups, particularly among children <2 y of age (3–5). Prevalence rates for some low-income children in some states, however, are still much higher than those for the whole country (6). For example, in Solano and Alameda counties in northern California, ≥30% of children tested were determined to be anemic (P Scariati, unpublished observations, 1996). Because the anemia rates for these and other California counties were high, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently evaluated the validity of the anemia data obtained in Alameda, Sacramento, and Fresno counties. There was evidence of measurement error within some of the clinics in these 3 counties, but anemia rates still appeared to be higher than the national average. In the United States, iron deficiency is the primary determinant of anemia.