Iron deficiency and anaemia affect millions of children worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effect of iron deficiency with or without anaemia on cognitive functions, specifically with short-term memory, attention and visualmotor coordination in children. A total of 173 primary school children was enrolled. Cognitive functions were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Three sub-tests were selected to assess processing speed (coding test), immediate auditory memory (digit span test) and visual processing and problem solving ability (maze test). The results showed significant correlation between age and coding test (r =0.38, p<0.001), digit span test (r =0.16,p = 0.028), and maze test scores (r =0.28, p<0.001), and the total sub-test scores (r=0.43, p <.001). After age adjustment of the cognitive function tests, iron deficient children without anaemia scored significantly lower than the healthy children (p<0.001) on coding test, while iron deficient children with anaemia and iron deficient children without anaemia scored significantly lower (p<0.001) than the healthy counterparts on maze test. No significant differences were observed on digit-span score among the groups. This study confirms the negative effect of both iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia on processing speed and visualmotor coordination in children.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between gender, birth weight, nutritional status, and iron status of children with their academic performance and cognitive function. Methods: Two hundred and fortynine children, seven to nine years of age, were recruited by systematic sampling from six primary schools in a rural area in Malaysia. Cognitive function was assessed by using Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (R-CPM). Academic performance of the children was recorded from their school final examination results in four subjects including Malay language, English, Mathematics, and Science. Birth weight was recorded from the birth certificate, and nutritional status was determined by weight-for-age z score and height-for-age z score. Results: Girls had a significantly higher score in all the academic tests, but a lower cognitive score compared to boys. Nutritional status was found to be correlated significantly with academic performance. Academic and cognitive function scores were also found to be correlated significantly with birth weight, parents’ education, and family income. In a multivariate analysis, gender remained the significant predictor of academic function, and iron status and haemoglobin were the significant predictors of cognitive function, after controlling for other variables. Conclusion: The study showed that girls performed better academically than boys in rural Malaysia. Nutritional status, parents’ education and family income could be additional modifiable factors to improve academic performance of the children. More attention is needed to improve academic achievements of boys at their early school years.

Introduction: Despite abundant sunshine for cutaneous vitamin D synthesis, low levels of vitamin D have been documented among the Malaysian population. The aim of this study was to characterise the effects of occupational sunlight exposure and monsoon season on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was performed among Malay outdoor (n=119) and indoor workers (n=119) in Kelantan. Two-point data were collected on the same participants, first during non-monsoon season and second during the northeast monsoon season. Data collection comprised of anthropometry measurements (body mass index and body fat), fasting blood test [serum 25(OH)D concentration], and questionnaire (physical activity level, sun exposure, sun protection use, and vitamin D intake). Vitamin D classification was based on the 2011 Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines. Results: This study found that serum 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly higher in outdoor compared to indoor workers irrespective of season (p<0.001) and sex (p<0.001). Monsoonal differences in serum 25(OH)D concentration was only observed in male outdoor workers (mean difference=10.39 nmol/l, p<0.001). Significant association between vitamin D status and occupation was also observed (p<0.001). However, no significant association was found between vitamin D status and monsoon season [χ2(1)=0.076, p=0.783]. Conclusion: Seasonal and occupational factors should be considered while evaluating individual serum 25(OH)D concentration and in comparing community studies, especially among workers.