Limited evidence suggested that iron supplementation produced a small improvement in cognitive development but had no effect on physical growth .
CONCLUSIONS : In 2 to 5 year olds , daily iron supplementation increases hemoglobin and ferritin .
There is a concerning lack of data on the effect of iron supplementation on clinical ly important outcomes including anemia , ID anemia , ID , and cognitive development .
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES : Iron deficiency ( ID ) is the most common cause of anemia worldwide .
The prevalence is highest among preschool-aged children .
Iron is widely administered to children with or at risk for ID , but evidence of benefit among 2- to 5-year-old children has not been evaluated by systematic review .
We summarize the evidence for the benefit and safety of daily iron supplementation with regard to hematologic , growth , and cognitive parameters in 2 to 5 year olds .
Iron supplementation improves appetite and growth in anemic Kenyan primary school children.
A r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled iron supplementation trial was conducted in Kenya to examine the effect of iron supplements on appetite and growth in 87 primary school children .  Sustained-release ferrous sulfate ( 150 mg ) or placebo tablets were provided daily at school for 14 wk . Prior to tablet administration , baseline anthropometry , iron nutritional status ( hemoglobin and serum ferritin ) , parasitic infections and clinical indicators of morbidity were measured . A baseline appetite test was conducted twice on each child by quantitatively measuring the ad libitum consumption of a midmorning snack . In addition , each child was asked for a subjective assessment of his or her appetite . Follow-up exams and appetite tests were identical to those at baseline . Findings indicated that provision of iron supplements result ed in improved growth and improved appetite ( in terms of both energy intake of the snack and child report of appetite ) as compared with children receiving the placebo . The increased energy intake from the snack was 10 % of the daily estimated energy intake for children of this same age group living elsewhere in Kenya . Further research into the underlying physiological mechanisms may shed light on the relationship between iron nutritional status and appetite
Limited evidence suggested that iron supplementation produced a small improvement in cognitive development but had no effect on physical growth .
CONCLUSIONS : In 2 to 5 year olds , daily iron supplementation increases hemoglobin and ferritin .
There is a concerning lack of data on the effect of iron supplementation on clinical ly important outcomes including anemia , ID anemia , ID , and cognitive development .
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES : Iron deficiency ( ID ) is the most common cause of anemia worldwide .
The prevalence is highest among preschool-aged children .
Iron is widely administered to children with or at risk for ID , but evidence of benefit among 2- to 5-year-old children has not been evaluated by systematic review .
We summarize the evidence for the benefit and safety of daily iron supplementation with regard to hematologic , growth , and cognitive parameters in 2 to 5 year olds .