Iron Deficiency, Anemia, and Low Vitamin B-12 Serostatus in Middle Childhood Are Associated with Behavior Problems in Adolescent Boys: Results from the Bogotá School Children Cohort
Sonia L Robinson, Constanza Marín, Henry Oliveros, Mercedes Mora-Plazas, Blair J Richards, Betsy Lozoff, Eduardo Villamor, Sonia L Robinson, Constanza Marín, Henry Oliveros, Mercedes Mora-Plazas, Blair J Richards, Betsy Lozoff, Eduardo Villamor
Abstract
Background: Iron deficiency (ID) in infancy is related to subsequent behavior problems. The effects of micronutrient status in middle childhood are uncertain.
Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the associations of micronutrient status biomarkers in middle childhood with externalizing and internalizing behavior problems in adolescence.
Methods: We assessed whether ID (ferritin <15 µg/L), anemia (hemoglobin <12.7 g/dL), or blood concentrations of zinc, vitamins A and B-12, and folate at ages 5-12 y were associated with externalizing or internalizing behavior problems in adolescence in 1042 schoolchildren from Bogotá, Colombia. Behavior problems were assessed with the Youth Self-Report questionnaire after a median 6.2 y of follow-up. Mean problem score differences with 95% CIs were estimated between categories of micronutrient status biomarkers with the use of multivariable linear regression.
Results: Mean ± SD externalizing and internalizing problems scores were 52.6 ± 9.6 and 53.8 ± 9.9, respectively. Among boys, middle-childhood ID, anemia, and low plasma vitamin B-12 were associated with 5.9 (95% CI: 1.0, 10.7), 6.6 (95% CI: 1.9, 11.3), and 2.7 (95% CI: 0.4, 4.9) units higher mean externalizing problems scores in adolescence, respectively-after adjustment for baseline age, time spent watching television or playing video games, mother's height, and socioeconomic status. Also in boys, ID was related to an adjusted 6.4 (95% CI: 1.2, 11.6) units higher mean internalizing problems score. There were no associations among girls. Other micronutrient status biomarkers were not associated with behavior problems.
Conclusions: ID, anemia, and low vitamin B-12 in middle childhood are related to behavior problems in adolescent boys.This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03297970.
Keywords: adolescence; anemia; externalizing behavior problems; internalizing behavior problems; iron deficiency; middle childhood; vitamin B-12.
© 2018 American Society for Nutrition.
Source: PubMed