Consumption of Iron-Biofortified Beans Positively Affects Cognitive Performance in 18- to 27-Year-Old Rwandan Female College Students in an 18-Week Randomized Controlled Efficacy Trial.

ABSTRACT: Background: Evidence shows that iron deficiency in adulthood may affect cognitive performance, possibly by disrupting neurotransmitter regulation or brain energy metabolism. Women of reproductive age (WRA) are among those who are most vulnerable to iron deficiency; however, they have been largely ignored in the literature relating iron status to cognition.Objective: Our aim was to determine the efficacy of iron-biofortified beans in improving cognition in WRA compared with control beans.Methods: A double-blind, randomized intervention study was conducted in 150 women aged 18-27 y with low iron status (ferritin <20 μg/L). Women were randomly assigned to consume iron-biofortified beans (86.1 ppm iron) or control beans (50.1 ppm iron) daily for 18 wk. Iron status was asse

SUBMITTER: Murray-Kolb LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5657139 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature