Micronutrient-fortified infant cereal improves Hb status and reduces iron-deficiency anaemia in Indian infants: an effectiveness study
Open Access
- 3 January 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in British Journal of Nutrition
- Vol. 123 (7), 780-791
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114519003386
Abstract
Anaemia affects approximately 69 % of Indian children aged 6–12 months, with Fe deficiency (ID) being a common cause. The effectiveness of micronutrient-fortified infant cereal in improving Fe status and neurodevelopment was evaluated in non-anaemic and mildly anaemic Indian infants. An intervention group (IC) enrolled at age 6 months consumed 50 g/d of rice-based cereal providing 3·75 mg Fe/d as ferrous fumarate for 6 months (n 80) and was compared with a matched static cross-sectional control group (CG) without intervention enrolled at age 12 months (n 80). Mean Hb was higher in IC (118·1 (sd 10·2) g/l) v. CG (109·5 (sd 16·4) g/l) at age 12 months (adjusted mean difference: 9·7 g/l; 95 % CI 5·1, 14·3; P < 0·001), while geometric mean serum ferritin tended to be higher (27·0 (–1 sd 13·4, +1 sd 54·4) v. 20·3 (–1 sd 7·5, +1 sd 55·0) ng/ml); P = 0·085) and soluble transferrin receptor was lower (1·70 (–1 sd 1·19, +1 sd 2·43) v. 2·07 (–1 sd 1·29, +1 sd 3·33) mg/l; P = 0·014). Anaemia (23 v. 45 %; P = 0·007) and ID (17 v. 40 %; P = 0·003) were lower in IC v. CG. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third Edition scores for language (P = 0·003), motor development (P = 0·018), social-emotional (P = 0·004) and adaptive behaviour (P < 0·001), but not cognitive development (P = 0·980), were higher in IC v. CG. No significant difference in anthropometric Z-scores was observed between the groups. Consuming a micronutrient-fortified infant cereal daily for 6 months during complementary feeding promoted better Fe status while reducing the risk for anaemia and ID and was associated with superior neurodevelopmental scores.Keywords
This publication has 53 references indexed in Scilit:
- Micronutrient fortification of food and its impact on woman and child health: a systematic reviewSystematic Reviews, 2013
- Effects of micronutrient fortified milk and cereal food for infants and children: a systematic reviewBMC Public Health, 2012
- B Vitamins in Breast Milk: Relative Importance of Maternal Status and Intake, and Effects on Infant Status and functionAdvances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal, 2012
- A comparison of the bioavailability of ferrous fumarate and ferrous sulfate in non-anemic Mexican women and children consuming a sweetened maize and milk drinkEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010
- Use of ferrous fumarate to fortify foods for infants and young childrenNutrition Reviews, 2010
- Iron bioavailability and dietary reference valuesThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010
- The Assessment of Newborn Iron Stores at Birth: A Review of the Literature and Standards for Ferritin ConcentrationsNeonatology, 2007
- Iron-deficiency anemia and infant development: Effects of extended oral iron therapyThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1996
- Developmental deficits in iron-deficient infants: Effects of age and severity of iron lackThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1982
- Iron absorption in infants: High bioavailability ofbreast milk iron as indicated by the extrinsic tag method of iron absorption and by the concentration of serum ferritinThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1977