The association between iron deficiency anemia and cognitive abilities among female university students

Introduction: Iron deficiency is a serious condition occurring when the human body’s total iron is less than the normal amount (three-four g). This study aimed to find the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and its association with cognitive abilities among female students. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 198 female students recruited using convenience sampling from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. Materials & methods: A food frequency questionnaire and cognitive abilities tests were used to collect the required information. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of IDA was 27.4%. The cognitive abilities parameters of immediate memory, working memory, speed of attention, and accuracy of attention for 50.0% of the students were 24, 16, 194, and three, respectively. Conclusions: No significant association between IDA and cognitive abilities was noted. Therefore, more studies are needed to explore the association between iron-supplemented diet and cognitive function.