Synthesized evidence indicates that addition of multiple micronutrients to Fe supplementation may only marginally improve Hb response compared with Fe supplementation alone .
However , addition of ' other micronutrients ' may have a negative effect .
Routine addition of unselected multiple micronutrients to Fe therefore appears unjustified for nutritional anaemia control programmes
OBJECTIVES To study the effect of combining multiple ( two or more ) micronutrients with Fe supplementation on Hb response , when compared with placebo and with Fe supplementation , in children .
Effects of a multivitamin and iron supplement on running performance in Gambian children.
Forty boys and girls between 11 and 14.5 years with evidence of sub clinical vitamin deficiencies were allocated to two groups to receive , twice weekly , either a placebo or a multivitamin and iron supplement . Prior to supplementation and on two subsequent occasions about 5 weeks apart , the children performed an exercise regimen on a treadmill during which expired air was collected and heart rate monitored . The supplement result ed in marked improvements in riboflavin and vitamin C status and checked the decline in iron stores seen in the unsupplemented children . During the study the running performance of unsupplemented children deteriorated , and markedly so in a subgroup with initially poor nutrient status . The vitamin and iron supplement prevented this deterioration so as to produce a significant reduction in the energy cost of treadmill running in the more malnourished subgroup , relative to the changes seen in children receiving no supplement
Synthesized evidence indicates that addition of multiple micronutrients to Fe supplementation may only marginally improve Hb response compared with Fe supplementation alone .
However , addition of ' other micronutrients ' may have a negative effect .
Routine addition of unselected multiple micronutrients to Fe therefore appears unjustified for nutritional anaemia control programmes
OBJECTIVES To study the effect of combining multiple ( two or more ) micronutrients with Fe supplementation on Hb response , when compared with placebo and with Fe supplementation , in children .