Iron Deficiency Prevalence in Bulgarian Children with Cerebral Palsy and Autism: A Call for Nutritional Interventions to Support Development.

Researchers studied iron levels in 95 Bulgarian children with cerebral palsy or autism. They found that many children had hidden iron deficiency - their blood tests showed low iron stores even though their red blood cell counts looked normal. About 63% of children with cerebral palsy and 37% of children with autism had this problem. Children with cerebral palsy also showed slower growth.

The study suggests these children need better nutrition monitoring and diet support to help their development.

This cross-sectional study examined iron deficiency in 95 Bulgarian children with cerebral palsy (62.1%) and autism spectrum disorder (37.9%) across two time periods (2017-2018 and 2023-2024). Researchers assessed iron nutritional status through laboratory tests, dietary questionnaires, and anthropometric measurements. While most children had normal hemoglobin and serum iron levels, latent iron deficiency was identified through low serum ferritin levels in 62.7% of children with cerebral palsy and 36.8% of those with autism. Children with cerebral palsy showed delayed growth and lower height-for-age scores.

Dietary patterns differed between groups, with cerebral palsy children consuming meat more frequently and autism children consuming fish more often. The findings emphasize the need for regular nutritional monitoring and targeted dietary interventions for these populations.

Regular iron status monitoring including ferritin testing should be considered for children with cerebral palsy and autism. Targeted nutritional interventions and dietary programs may be needed to address iron deficiency. Growth monitoring is particularly important for children with cerebral palsy given observed developmental delays.

Single cross-sectional study from one region in Bulgaria limits generalizability. No control group of neurotypical children for comparison. Sample size not clearly specified for subgroup analyses. Causality cannot be established due to cross-sectional design.

: Iron plays an important role in cognitive, behavioral, and motor development. This study aims to assess the iron nutritional status of Bulgarian children with cerebral palsy (CP) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), focusing on iron deficiency (ID) and its impact on children's development. We hypothesized that children with CP and ASD suffer from iron deficiency.: The cross-sectional study includes 95 children from northeastern Bulgaria. Data were collected in two periods (2017-2018 and 2023-2024).

Demographic questionnaires, food frequency questionnaires, and laboratory tests for hemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin, serum albumin, and CRP were conducted. Anthropometric measurements were evaluated. The Gross Motor Function Classification System scale was used to assess motor function in children with CP. Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi software, ver. 2.6.44, with a significance level of< 0.05.: Of the 95 children, 62.1% had CP and 37.9% had ASD.

Most children had normal hemoglobin and serum iron levels, but 62.7% of those with CP and 36.8% of those with ASD had low serum ferritin levels, indicating latent ID. A higher proportion of children with CP than those with ASD consumed meat daily, while fish was more commonly consumed by children with ASD. Anthropometric data showed delayed growth and lower height-for-age scores in children with CP.: The study identifies latent ID in children with CP and ASD. An evaluation of dietary habits highlights the need for interventions to improve nutritional status and development.

The observed deficiencies emphasize the need for regular monitoring and targeted dietary programs for children in these groups.