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 .
Iron supplementation of breast-fed Honduran and Swedish infants from 4 to 9 months of age.
OBJECTIVE The objective was to study the effects of iron supplementation on hemoglobin and iron status in 2 different population s. STUDY DESIGN In a r and omized , placebo-controlled , masked clinical trial , we assigned term Swedish ( n = 101 ) and Honduran ( n = 131 ) infants to 3 groups at 4 months of age : ( 1 ) iron supplements , 1 mg/kg/d , from 4 to 9 months , ( 2 ) placebo , 4 to 6 months and iron , 6 to 9 months , and ( 3 ) placebo , 4 to 9 months . All infants were breast-fed exclusively to 6 months and partially to 9 months . RESULTS From 4 to 6 months , the effect of  iron  ( group 1 vs 2 + 3 ) was significant and similar in both population s for hemoglobin , ferritin , and zinc protoporphyrin . From 6 to 9 months , the effect ( group 2 vs group 3 ) was significant and similar at both sites for all iron status variables except hemoglobin , for which there was a significant effect only in Honduras . In Honduras , the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia at 9 months was 29 % in the placebo group and 9 % in the supplemented groups . In Sweden , iron supplements caused no reduction in the already low prevalence of iron deficiency anemia at 9 months ( <3 % ) . CONCLUSION Iron supplementation from 4 to 9 months or 6 to 9 months significantly reduced iron deficiency anemia  in Honduran breast-fed infants . The unexpected hemoglobin response at 4 to 6 months in both population s suggests that regulation of hemoglobin synthesis is immature at this age
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 .