Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Comparing Effects of Supplementation with Two Different Combinations of Micronutrients Delivered as Sprinkles on Growth, Anemia, and Iron Deficiency in Cambodian Infants

Study answer

What this study found

Both active sprinkle regimens improved anemia-related outcomes versus placebo, but neither showed a clear growth advantage. Hemoglobin increased over 12 months in the MMN group by 8.2 g/L and in the FFA group by 8.3 g/L, while it decreased in the placebo group by 3.20 g/L; end-of-study hemoglobin was higher with both active regimens than placebo (P < 0.0001). Recovery from anemia was 53.8% with MMN and 52.9% with FFA versus 21.7% with placebo (P < 0.001). Ferritin rose slightly in the active groups but declined in placebo, and iron deficiency increased in placebo from 31% at baseline to 52%…

Study & population

Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial in Cambodian infants living in Tuk Phos district, Kompong Chhnang Province, Cambodia.

Intervention

Daily sprinkle sachets were mixed into the infant's cooked complementary meal at home for 12 months, starting 7 +/- 2 days after the baseline blood assessment.

Key limitation

Growth outcomes were not improved despite the micronutrient intervention, so the clinical benefit was limited to anemia and iron status.

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Original abstract