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 .
Iron status of breastfed infants is improved equally by medicinal iron and iron-fortified cereal.
BACKGROUND Although uncommon , iron deficiency ( ID ) occurs in breastfed infants . The regular provision of iron may prevent ID . OBJECTIVE The objective was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of 2 modalities of providing iron ( medicinal iron or iron-fortified cereal ) to breastfed infants . The study tested the hypothesis that regular provision of iron improves iron status of breastfed infants without adverse effects . DESIGN In this prospect i ve , r and omized , open-label trial , breastfed infants received on a regular basis either medicinal iron ( n = 48 ) or an iron-fortified fruit-cereal combination ( n = 45 ) from 4 to 9 mo or no intervention ( control group ; n = 59 ) . The interventions provided 7.0 - 7.5 mg ferrous sulfate/d . Infants were enrolled at 1 mo and were followed to 2 y. Iron-status indicators were determined periodically , stool characteristics were recorded , and growth was monitored . RESULTS The regular provision of iron led to improved iron status during and for some months after the intervention . Both sources of iron were about equally effective . Iron affected stool color but had no effect on feeding-related behavior . However , medicinal iron was associated with a small but significant reduction in length gain and a trend toward reduced weight gain . ID anemia was observed in 4 infants ( 2.3 % ) , most of whom had a low birth iron endowment .  Mild ID was common in the second year of life . CONCLUSIONS Regular provision of medicinal iron or iron-fortified cereal improves the iron status of breastfed infants and may prevent ID . Both modalities are equally effective , but medicinal iron leads to somewhat reduced growth . This trial was registered at Clinical Trials.gov as NCT00760890
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 .