Iron

Does iron improve memory and concentration?

Updated 9 Nov 2026

Short answer

In school children, reviews found gains in some scores, larger in children with anemia. A 2023 review of 13 studies in children aged 6 to 12 found better scores of intelligence, attention and memory, but no change in school results.[1] The gain in intelligence was larger in children with anemia.[1] An earlier review of 32 studies in 7,089 children aged 5 to 12 also found better cognitive scores, and IQ rose by 4.55 points in children with anemia.[2] A 2022 review of 9 studies in children and teenagers in low- and middle-income countries found better intelligence scores, but no effect on attention or memory.[3]

In children aged 4 to 23 months, 6 trials found no difference in mental or motor development.[4] In menstruating women, trials on thinking gave conflicting results.[5] More on cognition.

Sources (5)

  1. Effects of iron supplementation on cognitive development in school-age children: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Gutema BT, Sorrie MB, Megersa ND, Yesera GE, Yeshitila YG, Pauwels NS, et al. PLoS One, 2023. PMID 37368919
  2. Effects of daily iron supplementation in primary-school-aged children: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Low M, Farrell A, Biggs BA, Pasricha SR CMAJ, 2013. PMID 24130243
  3. Effect of Oral Iron Supplementation on Cognitive Function among Children and Adolescents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Chen Z, Yang H, Wang D, Sudfeld CR, Zhao A, Xin Y, et al. Nutrients, 2022. PMID 36558491
  4. Effect of daily iron supplementation on health in children aged 4-23 months: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Pasricha SR, Hayes E, Kalumba K, Biggs BA Lancet Glob Health, 2013. PMID 25104162
  5. Daily iron supplementation for improving anaemia, iron status and health in menstruating women. Low MS, Speedy J, Styles CE, De-Regil LM, Pasricha SR Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2016. PMID 27087396

More about iron

What is iron?Which foods contain iron?How long does it take for iron supplements to work?What is iron used for?What are the signs of iron deficiency?Is iron safe?

For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.