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Objective:To evaluate the effect of combined iron–zinc supplementation on micronutrient status, growth and morbidity.Design:Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled supplementation trial.Setting:Rural district of Que Vo, in the Red River Delta in Vietnam.Subjects:A total of 915 breast-fed infants aged 4–7 months were included and 784 completed the study.Interventions:The Fe-group received daily and for a 6-month period 10 mg of iron, the Zn-group 10 mg zinc, the Fe–Zn group 10 mg iron+10 mg zinc and the placebo group a placebo. Hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF) and zinc (SZn), and anthropometry were measured before and at the end of the intervention. Morbidity was recorded daily.Results:Changes of Hb and SF were higher in both Fe and Fe+Zn groups (respectively 22.6 and 20.6 g/l for Hb; 36.0 and 24.8 μg/l for SF) compared to Zn and placebo groups (Hb: 6.4 and 9.8 g/l; SF: −18.2 and −16.9 μg/l, P<0.0001). SZn increased more in Zn group (10.3 μmol/l) than in Fe+Zn group (8.0 μmol/l, P=0.03) and more in these groups compared to Fe and placebo groups (1.6 and 1.2 μmol/l, P<0.0001). Weight gain was higher in the Zn group. No significant effects of supplementations on growth in length or morbidity.Conclusions:Combined iron–zinc supplementation had a positive effect on iron and zinc status in infants. However, the positive effect of zinc alone on SZn and weight would indicate a negative interaction of iron when added to zinc supplements.Sponsorship:UNICEF New York.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) 60, 443–454. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602336; published online 23 November 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate body composition changes using bioelectrical impedance analysis and skinfold thickness measurements in infants from tropical areas who become stunted between 4-18 months of age. Design and measurements: Follow-up study. Extracellular water to total body water ratio index (length²/resistance at low to high frequency), peripheral fat (tricipital and subscapular skinfold thickness), and length-for-age index were studied at 4 and 18 months of age. Settings: Low-income areas in four tropical regions (Congo, Senegal, Bolivia and New Caledonia). Subjects: Infants were included in the analysis provided they were neither stunted nor wasted at 4 months. Two groups of infants were compared, those that were stunted at 18 months (n = 61) or not (n = 170). Results: The extracellular water to total body water ratio index and the sum of skinfold thickness measurements were similar in the two groups at 4 months, and only the extracellular water to total body water ratio index was significantly different at 18 months. When no stunting appeared between 4 and 18 months, the change in the extracellular water to total body water ratio index was not linked with variations in length-for-age, and presented the expected pattern of variation in body water compartments. When stunting occurred, variation in length-for-age was related to significant changes in the extracellular water to total body water ratio index, the biggest increase in the proportion of extracellular water being found in the most stunted infants. Variations in the sum of the two skinfold thickness measurements presented the expected pattern for the 4-18 months growth and did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions: Multifrequency resistances suggested that stunting was associated with a lack of the expansion of the intracellular compartment that is expected during normal growth of cell mass, together with preserved fat mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the impact of a daily oral iron supplementation on hematological status, cell-mediated immunity and susceptibility to infections in children living in an environment where iron deficiency, malaria and other infections are frequent.Design: Randomized, double-blind iron supplementation including a placebo group.Setting: A village in Togo, West Africa.Subjects: Of the 229 6-36-month-old children of both sexes recruited, 197 with hemoglobin concentration >/=80 g/l were included and 163 completed the study.Intervention: Children received daily a placebo (n=79) or a dose of 2-3 mg of elemental iron per kg of body weight (n=84) for 3 months. Hematological, nutritional and immune status were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the supplementation period, and 6 months later. Morbidity was recorded throughout the study.Results: Iron supplementation had a significant and positive effect on iron status of children and no impact on the incidence of infections, especially malaria. Its probable effect on immune status was masked by interference of infections and their treatment, which contributed to improve hematological and immune status in both groups.Conclusion: According to the negative consequences of anemia and iron deficiency on global child development, control of iron deficiency by oral iron supplementation in young children has to be conducted, associated with prophylaxis and treatment of malaria and repeated deworming.Sponsorship: Program supported by IRD. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 29-35 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study which assessed the impact of a daily oral iron supplementation on hematological status, cell-mediated immunity and susceptibility to infections in children. Subjects and methods; Results and discussion.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of a daily and a weekly iron supplementation on the hematological status of anemic children living at high altitude.Design: Double blind iron supplementation trial including a placebo control group.Setting: A socioeconomically disadvantaged district of La Paz, Bolivia (altitude of 4000 m).Subjects: Anemic (hemoglobin concentration < or = 144 g/L), 3.3-8.3 y old children of both sexes.Intervention: Children received a placebo (n = 57) or a dose of 3-4 mg of elemental iron per kg body weight (FeSO4 tablets) 1 d per week (n = 58) or 5 d per week (n = 58) for 16 weeks.Results: Hemoglobin and zinc erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentrations improved significantly in supplemented groups but not in the placebo group. Changes in hemoglobin during the study were not significantly different between supplemented groups (weekly group: 15.2 +/- 6.9 g/L and daily group: 18.6 +/- 11.1 g/L) but were different from the placebo group (0.5 +/- 7.1 g/L, P < 0.001). At the end of the supplementation period, the hemoglobin distribution was Gaussian, and similar in both supplemented groups. Adjusting for the initial hemoglobin concentration, final hemoglobin and its changes were similar in both supplemented groups.Conclusion: Weekly iron supplementation is as efficacious as daily iron supplementation in improving iron status and correcting moderate iron deficiency anemia in Bolivian school children living at high altitude.Sponsorship: Program supported in part by ORSTROM, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Secretary's Office of Health, Bolivia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on the study of efficacy of a daily and weekly iron supplementation on the hematological status of anemic children living in Bolivia. Information on iron deficiency anemia and its problems; Background information on the study conducted in Bolivia; Information on the subjects and the methods conducted; What was concluded from the study.