Effect of daily or weekly multiple-micronutrient and iron foodlike tablets on body iron stores of Indonesian infants aged 6-12 mo: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
There is still uncertainty about the best procedure to alleviate iron deficiency. Additionally more reliable methods are needed to assess the effect of iron intervention.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the efficacy of daily iron (10 mg), daily and weekly multiple-micronutrient supplementation (10 and 20 mg Fe, respectively) in improving body iron stores of Indonesian infants.


METHODS
Infants aged 6-12 mo were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 groups: daily multiple-micronutrients (DMM) foodlike tablets (foodLETs), weekly multiple-micronutrient (WMM) foodLETs, daily iron (DI) foodLETs, or daily placebo. Hemoglobin, ferritin, transferrin receptors, and C-reactive protein data were obtained at baseline and 23 wk.


RESULTS
Body iron estimated from the ratio of transferrin receptors to ferritin was analyzed for 244 infants. At baseline, mean iron stores (0.5 +/- 4.1 mg/kg) did not differ among the groups, and 45.5% infants had deficits in tissue iron (body iron < 0). At week 23, the group DI had the highest increment in mean body iron (4.0 mg/kg), followed by the DMM group (2.3 mg/kg; P < 0.001 for both). The iron stores in the WMM group did not change, whereas the mean body iron declined in the daily placebo group (-2.2 mg/kg; P < 0.001). Compared with the daily placebo group, the DMM group gained 4.55 mg Fe/kg, the DI group gained 6.23 mg Fe/kg (both P < 0.001), and the WMM group gained 2.54 mg Fe/kg (P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
When compliance can be ensured, DI and DMM foodLETs are efficacious in improving and WMM is efficacious in maintaining iron stores among Indonesian infants.
Wijaya-Erhardt
Maria
M
Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization-Tropical Medicine Regional Center for Community Nutrition, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia. mwijaya@seameo-rccn.org
Erhardt
Juergen G
JG
Untoro
Juliawati
J
Karyadi
Elvina
E
Wibowo
Lindawati
L
Gross
Rainer
R
D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D012424:Rural Population
D006454:Hemoglobins; D018977:Micronutrients; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron