Sensitivity analyses and meta-regression for hemoglobin suggested a higher response with lower trial quality ( suboptimal allocation concealment and blinding ) , use of condiments , and sodium iron edetate and a lower response when adults were included .
Consumption of iron-fortified foods results in an improvement in hemoglobin , serum ferritin , and iron nutriture and a reduced risk of remaining anemic and iron deficient
BACKGROUND The utility of iron fortification of food to improve iron deficiency , anemia , and biological outcomes is not proven unequivocally .
Randomized double-blind controlled trial on the effects on iron status in the first year between a no added iron and standard infant formula received for three months.
UNLABELLED Recent research has not only question ed the necessity of iron supplementation in human milk substitutes prior to weaning , but also suggested some potential adverse effects . This study investigated the hypothesis that infant formula need not contain added iron in the first 3 mo . Healthy term infants were recruited into a double-blind controlled trial and r and omized to receive either a new no added iron formula ( New ; < 0.1 mg Fe 100 ml(-1 ) ) or a st and ard formula ( St and ard ; 0.5 mg Fe 100 ml(-1 ) ) for the first 3 mo of life . A breastfed reference group was also studied . Iron status was assessed at 3 and 12 mo from heel-prick capillary blood sample s evaluated by full blood-count analysis , including reticulocytes and serum ferritin . In total , 149 infants were entered ( 51 New , 49 St and ard , 49 breastfed ) with no differences between the groups in gender distribution , birthweight , gestation or numbers completing the study . There were no significant differences between the principal outcome measures : mean values for haemoglobin , mean cell volume and ferritin , between the two formula-fed groups , and the proportion with a haemoglobin level < 11 g dl(-1 ) or ferritin < 10 microg l(-1 ) did not differ . CONCLUSION The use of a " no added iron " infant formula in place of an iron-fortified formula during the first 3 mo of life did not clinical ly affect iron status at 3 and 12 mo of age . The universal supplementation of formulae with iron during this initial period needs further consideration
Sensitivity analyses and meta-regression for hemoglobin suggested a higher response with lower trial quality ( suboptimal allocation concealment and blinding ) , use of condiments , and sodium iron edetate and a lower response when adults were included .
Consumption of iron-fortified foods results in an improvement in hemoglobin , serum ferritin , and iron nutriture and a reduced risk of remaining anemic and iron deficient
BACKGROUND The utility of iron fortification of food to improve iron deficiency , anemia , and biological outcomes is not proven unequivocally .