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 .
Redistribution of vitamin A after iron supplementation in Indonesian infants.
BACKGROUND Deficiencies of iron and vitamin A are prevalent worldwide . Single-micronutrient supplementation is widely used to combat these deficiencies . However , micronutrient deficiencies often occur concurrently , and there are many interactions between micronutrients . OBJECTIVE This study investigated interactions among 3 important micronutrients -- iron , vitamin A , and zinc -- when they are given as supplements . DESIGN In a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled supplementation trial , 387 Indonesian infants aged 4 mo were supplemented 5 d/wk for 6 mo with 10 mg Fe , 10 mg Zn , 2.4 mg beta-carotene , 10 mg each of Fe and Zn , 10 mg Zn + 2.4 mg beta-carotene , or placebo . Complete data on micronutrient status , including hemoglobin , ferritin , retinol , zinc , and the modified relative dose response ( a measure of liver retinol stores ) , were available from 256 infants at the end of the study . RESULTS Iron-supplemented infants had significantly lower plasma retinol concentrations and a significantly higher prevalence of vitamin A deficiency , as defined by a plasma retinol concentration < 0.70 micromol/L , than did the non-supplemented infants . In contrast , the modified relative dose response of the iron-supplemented infants indicated greater liver stores of vitamin A.  Iron supplementation improved iron status , and zinc supplementation improved zinc status , but beta-carotene supplementation did not significantly improve vitamin A status . CONCLUSIONS In this study , iron supplementation in infants with marginal vitamin A status led to lower plasma vitamin A concentrations and simultaneously to greater vitamin A liver stores . This implies a redistribution of retinol after iron supplementation , which might induce vitamin A deficiency . Therefore , iron supplementation in infants should be accompanied by measures to improve vitamin A status
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 .