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, controlled trial of daily iron supplementation and intermittent sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for the treatment of mild childhood anemia in western Kenya.
A r and omized , placebo-controlled treatment trial was conducted among 546 anemic ( hemoglobin concentration , 7 - 11 g/dL ) children aged 2 - 36 months in an area with intense malaria transmission in western Kenya . All children used bednets  and received a single dose of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine ( SP ) on enrollment , followed by either intermittent preventive treatment ( IPT ) with SP at 4 and 8 weeks and daily iron for 12 weeks , daily iron and IPT with SP placebo , IPT and daily iron placebo , or daily iron placebo and IPT with SP placebo ( double placebo ) . The mean hemoglobin concentration at 12 weeks , compared with that for the double-placebo group , was 1.14 g/dL ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 0.82 - 1.47 g/dL ) greater for the IPT+iron group , 0.79 g/dL ( 95 % CI , 0.46 - 1.10 g/dL ) greater for the iron group , and 0.17 g/dL ( 95 % CI , -0.15 - 0.49 g/dL ) greater for the IPT group . IPT reduced the incidence of malaria parasitemia and clinic visits , but iron did not . The combination of IPT and iron supplementation was most effective in the treatment of mild anemia . Although IPT prevented malaria , the hematological benefit it added to that of a single dose of SP and bednet use was modest
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 .