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 .
Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of iron supplementation in infants with low hemoglobin levels fed iron-fortified formula.
In spite of the declining prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia , a large proportion of low-income infants have " low-normal " ( 11 - 11.5 g/dL ) and " low " ( less than 11 g/dL ) hemoglobin ( Hgb ) values  . Because most of these infants are fed iron-fortified formulas , it was of interest whether additional iron supplementation would enhance Hgb values . A cohort of 334 healthy , inner-city , minority , 6-month-old infants , fed iron-fortified formulas , with Hgb values ranging from 9 to 11.5 g/dL , participated in a double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled trial of supplemental iron at 0 , 3 , and 6 mg/kg per day for 3 months . Hemoglobin values increased significantly with age , regardless of assignment to placebo or supplemental iron ( means for the entire cohort : 6 months 10.9 g/dL , 8 months 11.2 , 10 months 11.3 , and 12 months 11.4 ) . The proportion of " responders " ( Hgb level increased greater than or equal to 1 g/dL ) was 34 % and did not differ significantly by placebo or iron dose . There were no significant differences in mean corpuscular volume or levels of erythrocyte porphyrins or serum ferritin between treatment groups . The implication s of this clinical trial are twofold : ( 1 ) screening healthy infants fed iron-fortified formula at the age of 6 months is not justified , regardless of socioeconomic status ; ( 2 ) the clinical practice of routinely treating low-income , " low-Hgb " infants with iron supplementation , without regard to dietary considerations , is unwarranted
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 .