Iron deficiency alters visual evoked potentials waveform in women

Objective: Iron deficiency may impair neuronal myelination, affecting the visual pathway. Using a sensitive method to determine the intra-individual variability of visual evoked potentials (VEP), we evaluate the effect of iron fortified food on the visual pathway in iron deficient, but otherwise healthy adult women. Methods: In a double-blind randomized controlled study, iron deficient women 19–30 years old (n=15) were assigned to 2 groups to receive 20g margarine with 14mg iron as NaFeEDTA or placebo for 8 mo. Iron status and VEP were measured at baseline and at endpoint. We regressed VEP waveforms pairwise ont…