This systematic review indicates that iron supplementation increases  Hb levels in children significantly but modestly .
The increase is greater in subjects who are anaemic at the start of the trial and lower in malarial hyperendemic areas and in those consuming iron-fortified food .
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of iron supplementation on  haemoglobin ( Hb ) in children through a systematic review of r and omised controlled trials .
The impact of weekly iron supplementation on the iron status and growth of adolescent girls in Tanzania.
We evaluated the effect of weekly doses of 400 mg of ferrous sulphate for 4 months on the iron status of adolescent girls in a controlled trial in Tanga , Tanzania . Supplementation led to a significantly greater increase in serum ferritin compared with the control group ( + 15.6 microg/l vs. 8.6 microg/l ) ( P = 0.002 ) but there was no significant difference in change in haemoglobin . Children given iron showed a significantly greater weight gain than controls ( + 2.4 kg vs. + 1.4 kg ) ( P = 0.03 ) . Weekly iron supplementation may be an effective means of increasing iron stores and growth in children vulnerable to iron deficiency
This systematic review indicates that iron supplementation increases  Hb levels in children significantly but modestly .
The increase is greater in subjects who are anaemic at the start of the trial and lower in malarial hyperendemic areas and in those consuming iron-fortified food .
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of iron supplementation on  haemoglobin ( Hb ) in children through a systematic review of r and omised controlled trials .