Post-Motor Development Outcome in Pediatric Population Receiving Iron Supplementation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Vanessa Els ([phone])
Richard Christian Suteja (Udayana University)
Wilson Wijaya (Udayana University)
Leonardo Alpha Diaz (Udayana University)
Giovanca Verentzia Purnama (Udayana University)
Rafael Kurnia Pratama Tokan (Udayana University)
I Gusti Agung Ngurah Sugitha Adnyana (Growth and Development Division, Pediatric Department, Faculty Of Medicine, Udayana University/Prof. Dr. IGNG Ngoerah General Hospital, Indonesia)

Pediatric Sciences Journal
Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): (Available Online : 1 June 2026)

Background: Iron's vital role in early neurodevelopment, especially in motor skill acquisition, underscores its importance for pediatric health professionals and researchers, emphasizing the need to understand how supplementation impacts outcomes.Methods: This study was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, DOAJ, and Scopus for studies assessing motor development measured with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development among children receiving iron supplementation. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the pooled mean motor score.The pooled post-supplementation ferritin levels varied widely, with a mean of 76.62 (95% CI: −30.86; 184.10), highlighting the complexity and importance of personalized approaches in iron management for clinicians and researchers.Conclusion: While current evidence suggests iron supplementation supports normal motor development, the variability in ferritin levels and unclear dose-response relationships should motivate healthcare professionals to pursue further research to optimize strategies for neurodevelopmental benefits.