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 .
Milk versus medicine for the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in hospitalised infants
Aims : To compare iron fortified follow-on milk ( iron follow-on ) , iron fortified partially modified cows ’ milk ( iron milk ) , and iron medicine for the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia ( IDA ) in hospitalised infants . Methods : In a r and omised controlled trial , infants aged 9–23 months with IDA and who were hospitalised with an acute illness received iron follow-on ( 12 mg/l ferrous iron ) , iron milk ( 12.9 mg/l ferrous iron ) , or iron medicine ( ferrous gluconate at 3 mg/kg of elemental iron once daily ) . All interventions were given for three months . Changes in measures of iron status three months after hospital discharge were determined . Results : A total of 234 infants were r and omised .  Iron status was measured at follow up in 59 ( 70 % ) iron medicine , 49 ( 66 % ) iron follow-on , and 54 ( 70 % ) iron milk treated infants . There was a significant ( mean , 95 % CI ) increase in haemoglobin ( 15 g/l , 13 to 16 ) and iron saturation ( 9 % , 8 to 10 ) and decrease in ferritin ( −53 μg/l , −74 to −31 ) in all three groups . Mean cell volume increased in iron follow-on ( 2 fl , 1 to 3 ) and iron milk ( 1 fl , 0.1 to 3 ) treated infants , but not in the iron medicine group ( 1 fl , −1 to 2 ) . The proportion with IDA decreased in all three groups : iron medicine 93 % to 7 % , iron follow-on 83 % to 8 % , and iron milk 96 % to 30 % . Adverse effects , primarily gastrointestinal , occurred in 23 % of the iron medicine , 14 % of the iron follow-on , and 13 % of the iron milk group . Conclusions : Iron fortified follow-on milk , iron fortified partially modified cows ’ milk , and iron medicine all effectively treat IDA in infancy
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 .