There is no question that good health is important. Maintain adequate levels of vitamins, glucose, etc. allows us to perform well because they are important for the proper functioning of the brain. Another important variable is iron . At least one recent study alerts us to the possible consequences of having low levels of this mineral. The work has recently been published in The Journal of Nutrition (2016) and has been carried out by two researchers from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Pennsylvania State University in the United States.
A total of 127 young women (between 18 and 35 years old) participated in the experiment, taking various hematological markers and performing various cognitive tests. The aim of the study was to analyze how an iron deficiency in women without anemia and of reproductive age could affect performance in mental tasks. To do this, they measured, among other things, the levels of hemoglobin, ferritin, transferrin and total iron levels in the body. Regarding the cognitive evaluation, executive functions tests were applied, including inhibitory control tasks, planning, attention and working memory.
The results showed some interesting data. It appears that having a good iron level was associated with better reaction times, better inhibitory control, and better planning ability . Interestingly, and unexpectedly, it was observed that in the participating women, those with the best iron levels had a worse performance in working memory . According to the authors, this finding could be related to an interference in the networks that connect the prefrontal cortex with the hippocampus .
It seems that iron levels are relevant to perform well in certain mental tasks, and not only in terms of avoiding anemic states, but in healthy young women. It is one more example that nutrition is also very important for the brain .
Marisa Fernández, Senior Neuropsychologist, Unobrain
