Infants who receive too much iron may have a higher likelihood of developing neurological problems as they grow older.
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
When babies get too much iron, it creates harmful molecules in the brain that damage the protective coating around nerve fibers and mess up how the brain trims its connections. This can lead to lasting changes in how the brain processes information.
Most probable mechanism
Too much iron in early life causes excess free radicals to build up in the brain, which damages the fatty insulation around nerve fibers and interferes with the brain’s natural process of trimming unnecessary connections between nerve cells, leading to lasting changes in how the brain works.
Excess iron accumulates in developing brain regions rich in oligodendrocytes and neurons, particularly the hippocampus and basal ganglia.
Iron catalyzes the formation of reactive oxygen species through Fenton chemistry, overwhelming endogenous antioxidant defenses.
Oxidative stress damages lipid membranes of oligodendrocytes, impairing myelin synthesis and stability.
Reactive oxygen species alter microglial function, leading to aberrant synaptic pruning during critical developmental windows.
Disrupted myelination and excessive or insufficient synaptic elimination reduce neural circuit efficiency in regions governing cognition and behavior.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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