Iron Deficiency in Children Can Inhibit the Development of Their Thinking Power

JAKARTA - Ensuring children get enough iron intake is an important step in maintaining their health and development. Iron plays a role in the formation of red blood cells and supports children's cognitive function.

Iron deficiency can cause anemia, which has an impact on endurance, concentration, and brain development. Therefore, routine iron level checks are an important step for parents to ensure that children get enough nutrition.

Nutritionist Siti Hanifah said that many parents are not yet aware of the serious impact of iron deficiency.

"Iron plays an important role in children's brain development. If children experience long-term iron deficiency, this can affect their thinking power, concentration, and energy," she explained in a press release from the collaboration between SGM Eksplor and Alfamidi to VOI.

Iron deficiency in children can be caused by various factors, ranging from an unbalanced diet, low consumption of iron-rich foods, to impaired absorption of iron in the body.

Some food groups that are sources of natural iron include red meat, fish, eggs, and green vegetables such as spinach and kale.

"Many parents think that providing food in large quantities is enough to meet children's nutritional needs."

"In fact, what is more important is ensuring that food intake contains balanced nutrients, including iron. In addition, consuming vitamin C can help increase iron absorption in the body," added Hanifah.

In this case, health checks and consultations with medical personnel are also important steps in detecting iron deficiency early.

Currently, various iron testing methods are available, including digital tools that allow parents to independently evaluate their child's iron adequacy before consulting a doctor.