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 supplementation of low-income infants: a randomized clinical trial of adherence with ferrous fumarate sprinkles versus ferrous sulfate drops.
OBJECTIVE To determine whether low-income infants ' adherence to nutritional supplementation with ferrous fumarate sprinkles was better than that with ferrous sulfate drops . STUDY DESIGN The study was a r and omized clinical trial of healthy 6-month-old infants . Each infant received either a daily packet of sprinkles or a dropperful of liquid . Follow-up included alternating telephone and home visits biweekly for 3 months . Adherence was defined as high if the infant 's caregiver reported supplement use on 5 to 7 days during the week before assessment . Side effects and caregiver attitude about supplements were secondary outcomes . Analyses were conducted using generalized estimating equations and chi(2 ) and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests . RESULTS A total of 150 of 225 eligible infants were enrolled .  Adherence to supplementation was generally poor . High adherence ranged from 32 % to 63 % at any assessment in the subjects receiving drops , compared with 30 % to 46 % in those receiving sprinkles . The drops group was more likely to have at least four assessment s with high adherence ( 22 % vs 9.5 % ; P = .03 ) . Caregivers of the drops infants were more likely to report greater than usual fussiness ( P < .01 ) ; however , fussiness had no consistent impact on adherence . CONCLUSIONS The use of ferrous fumarate sprinkles rather than traditional ferrous sulfate drops did not improve adherence with daily iron supplementation in low-income infants
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 .