Effects of iron and zinc supplementation in Indonesian infants on micronutrient status and growth.

Study answer

What this study found

Iron and zinc supplementation improved micronutrient status and reduced anemia, but none of the regimens improved growth. At 6 months, the iron group had higher hemoglobin and ferritin and lower anemia than the iron plus zinc group (hemoglobin 115 ± 10 g/L, anemia 28%, ferritin 36.8 [19.1-61.2] g/L, iron deficiency anemia 3%), while the iron plus zinc group still showed benefit (hemoglobin 110 ± 11 g/L, anemia 46%, ferritin 26.6 [16.9-41.7] g/L, iron deficiency anemia 8%). Zinc supplementation increased plasma zinc concentrations, and the iron, zinc, and iron plus zinc groups had plasma zinc…

Study & population

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled community trial in generally healthy, predominantly breastfed infants in rural West Java, Indonesia.

Intervention

Infants received iron syrup 10 mg/d, zinc syrup 10 mg/d, or iron plus zinc syrup providing 10 mg/d of each supplement, administered orally 5 days per week for 6 months.

Key limitation

Follow-up was limited to 6 months, and completion was lower in the iron plus zinc arm (78 of 120 randomized).

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Original abstract