Influence of Iron Deficiency on Memory and Learning in BALB/c Mice

Introduction: Anemia is a global public health problem. Iron plays various roles in the human body, and the nervous system is one of the most affected by its deficiency. Objective: To determine the influence of an iron-deficient diet and a normal diet for a mouse based on iron-related blood parameters on spatial memory and learning. Methods: An experimental study was conducted with 48 male albino BALB/c mice less than one month old. These were randomly assigned to six groups with different diets and evaluation periods. Results: Mice on iron-deficient diet showed a significant reduction in hemoglobin and serum iron levels, along with a lower performance in spatial memory and learning. However, those mice which were switched from an iron-deficient diet to a normal diet showed blood parameters and performance in spatial memory and learning similar to mice fed a normal diet. Conclusions: Iron deficiency during growth can have negative effects on iron-related blood parameters and spatial memory and learning, but an early intervention with an appropriate diet can reverse these effects. Addressing dietary iron deficiency could be crucial to promote healthy cognitive development during growth.