The purpose of the study is to give a small dose of extra iron supplements to children who are fully amenable to improving their brain status. For a period of five months between when the child is four and nine months. Half of the children receive iron supplements and half receive placebo. Then you follow up the children for three years, with controls at one, two, and three years of age.

- We test them with the help of a psychologist who can meet parents and the child to observe and check certain skills, says Anna Chmielewska, a researcher at Umeå University.

Supplements for all American children

In the United States, an iron supplement for children aged four to nine months is recommended. Something that has been criticized when there is too little research in this area.

- You do not want to give such a large part of the population something that you are not sure that is any benefit. Not all the negative consequences of the supplement have been tested. Although there is little likelihood that there will be someone, it must be excluded if it can have negative effects.

Recommendations are delayed

Side effects that exist have to do with the stomach, such as constipation and diarrhea but then it is usually with up to six times higher doses than are included in this research. Then, in previous studies, it has been shown that when giving iron supplements to children who do not have iron deficiency can in a minimal way affect growth in the long run.

- The risk is very low and so far we have not noticed anything. But otherwise, it is the growth that we follow closely so that it should not be hampered by the iron supplement, says Anna Chmielewska.

In about three and a half years, the study is expected to be complete. At the earliest, you can see some trends in just under two years. But there will be some recommendations to add iron supplements for children it will take, Anna Chmielewska believes.

See the clip above and meet Fabian and his mother who are visiting the research reception