title: The Effect of Iron Fortification on Iron (Fe) Status and Inflammation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iron deficiency (ID) is common in toddlers in developing countries. Iron fortified or meat-based complementary foods may be effective to prevent ID.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to compare iron status at 18 months and growth from 6 to 18 months in rural poor toddlers fed 3 different complementary foods.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was nested within a larger trial in which 6-month-old infants were randomized to receive 50g/d meat (MG), an equi-caloric fortified cereal supplement (FG) or local cereal supplement (LG) for 1 year. Hb, sTfR, HsCRP, ferritin and AGP were measured in 410 blood samples collected by a random sampling (MG, 137; FG, 140; LG, 133); calprotectin was measured in feces. Body iron = -[log (sTfR ×1000/ferritin)-2.8229] /0.1207. ID = ferritin<12ug/L.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The toddlers in FG had the significantly highest levels in serum ferritin and body iron (P = 0.043, 0.004), and the rates of both ID and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) were the lowest in FG (P = 0.010, 0.021). The rate of systemic inflammation in FG was 30.71%, which was the highest among three groups (P = 0.042). No intervention effects on either the rates of ID and IDA or iron stores (serum ferritin and body iron) were shown in MG. The change in length-for-age z scores (LAZ) from 6 to 18 months among three groups was significantly different (P = 0.021) and a smaller decrease of LAZ in MG and a larger decrease of LAZ in FG were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iron fortified cereal improved iron status of poor rural toddlers but was also associated with systemic inflammation which was likely to impair their growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Children and Adolescents Health Care, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jingqiu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Children and Adolescents Health Care, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Children and Adolescents Health Care, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jinrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Children and Adolescents Health Care, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yanqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Children and Adolescents Health Care, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Children and Adolescents Health Care, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Children and Adolescents Health Care, Xin Hua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Kongjiang Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: K Michael
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hambidge
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat
chemical_list: D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron