JOURNAL ARTICLE
RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOV'T
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Multiple micronutrients including iron are not more effective than iron alone for improving hemoglobin and iron status of Malian school children.

Iron deficiency and anemia remain among the most important global public health problems facing school children. Helminth infections often peak at school age and aggravate nutritional risks. We conducted a 12-wk randomized controlled trial in 406 Malian anemic schoolchildren infected with Schistosoma hematobium to examine the effects of 2 doses of praziquantel (P) (40 mg/kg body weight), P + 60 mg/d iron (Fe), and/or a multiple micronutrient supplement (MM) that included 18 mg/d Fe. Supplements were administered to the children each school day (5 d/wk) throughout the study. Changes in hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), and serum transferrin receptors (s-TfR) were followed. We also examined interactions between Fe and MM supplements on Hb and SF concentrations and malaria incidence. The effects of Fe on Hb and SF concentrations were greater than the effects of P alone and MM with or without added Fe at 6 and 12 wk (P < 0.001). In all groups, s-TfR decreased at 6 and 12 wk compared with baseline. The decrease was most pronounced in the P + Fe group compared with the other 3 groups at wk 6 (P = 0.05). Fe and MM interacted negatively at wk 6 and 12 to affect Hb (beta = -0.43, 95% CI = -0.77, -0.09; P = 0.01 and beta = -0.47, 95% CI = -0.83, -0.11; P = 0.01, respectively) and SF (beta = -0.42, 95% CI = -25.60, 12.31; P < 0.001, and beta = -0.37, 95% CI = -0.63, -0.12; P = 0.004, respectively). Malaria incidence was higher in the groups treated with added Fe (relative risk: 1.66; 95% CI: 0.75, 3.67). In this context, MM with added iron were not more effective than Fe without MM. Fe supplementation of schoolchildren with 60 mg/d for anemia control should be considered carefully.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app