Volume 44 (2026) – Supplementary Issue 1 – Article 22 – Epitheorese Klinikes Farmakologias kai Farmakokinetikes

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Open Access Research

Analysis of the relationship between serum iron levels and cognitive test performance among university students
Rand Hatam Kalo1,A green circle with white letters Description automatically generated, Raghdah Naser Mohsin2,*A green circle with white letters Description automatically generated, Duha Abed Almuhssen Muzahim Alzubaidy3A green circle with white letters Description automatically generated, Sabreen Hammoudi Hamzah4A green circle with white letters Description automatically generated
1Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Ibn Khaldoun University College, Baghdad, Iraq
2Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, College of Health and Medical Techniques, Al-Bayan University, Baghdad, Iraq
3Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, College of Health and Medical Techniques, Al-Bayan University, Baghdad, Iraq
4Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Ibn Khaldoun University College, Baghdad, Iraq

*Corresponding author: Raghdah Naser Mohsin, Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, College of Health and Medical Techniques, Al-Bayan University, Baghdad, Iraq; Tel.: +9647721049270; e-mail: raghdah.n@albayan.edu.iq


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Published: 2026 ; https://doi.org/10.61873/


Abstract
Background: Iron is a fundamental micronutrient involved in key neurological processes including neurotransmitter synthesis, myelination, and neuronal energy metabolism. Low serum iron levels have been proposed to impair cog­nitive functions such as attention, memory, and learning capacity. However, evidence regarding its effect on cognitive performance in healthy adult populations remains inconsistent. University students in Iraq represent an understudied group in which nutritional factors may interact with academic demands. Aim: This study aimed to examine the corre­lation between serum iron concentration and cognitive test performance among university students in Baghdad, Iraq. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 95 university students aged 18–36 years. Serum iron concentrations were measured using the IRON liquicolor spectrophotometric kit (Human GmbH, Wiesbaden, Ger­many; REF: 10229). Reference ranges were 10.6–28.3 μmol/L for males and 6.6–26.0 μmol/L for females. Cognitive performance was assessed using a structured screening questionnaire evaluating memory, attention, and reasoning. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, employing Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and Chi-square tests. Results: The mean age was 22.93 ± 3.13 years. Mean serum iron was 9.77 ± 2.22 μmol/L, and mean cognitive test score was 25.39 ± 5.26. Spearman’s correlation showed a very weak, non-significant positive relationship (ρ=0.089, p=0.392). Chi-square analysis showed no significant association between iron status and cog­nitive score category (p=0.236). Conclusion: Serum iron concentration was not significantly correlated with cognitive test scores in this sample of university students. These findings should be interpreted with caution given the observa­tional design, single biomarker assessment, and unvalidated cognitive screening tool.

Keywords: iron deficiency (ID), intelligence quotient (IQ), cognitive performance, neurocognitive function, university students

Please cite as: Kalo R. H., Mohsin R. N., Alzubaidy D. A. A. M., Hamzah S. H.: Analysis of the relationship between serum iron levels and cognitive test performance among university students. Epitheorese Klin. Farmakol. Farmakokinet. xx(xx): xx-xx (2026). DOI: 10.61873/XXXXXXX

 


pISSN 1011-6575 • eISSN 2945-1914

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