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Effect of iron supplementation on physical growth in children: systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Effect of iron supplementation on physical growth in children: systematic review of randomised controlled trials
Effect of iron supplementation on physical growth in children: systematic review of randomised controlled trials
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of iron supplementation on physical growth in children through a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases, personal files, and hand search of reviews, bibliographies of books, abstracts and proceedings of international conferences. REVIEW METHODS: RCTs evaluating change in anthropometry with interventions that included oral or parenteral iron supplementation, or iron-fortified formula milk or cereals, were analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-five trials (26 cohorts) had relevant information. There was no evidence of publication bias. The pooled estimates (random effects model) did not document a statistically significant (P>0.05) positive effect of iron supplementation on any anthropometric variable (weight-for-age, weight-for-height, height-for-age, mid upper-arm circumference, skinfold thickness, head circumference). Significant heterogeneity was evident, and its predictors included greater weight-for-age in supplemented children in malaria hyperendemic regions and greater weight-for-height for children above 5 years of age, but a negative effect on linear growth in developed countries and with supplementation for 6 months or longer. CONCLUSIONS: This review did not document a positive effect of iron supplementation on the physical growth of children. The identified predictors of heterogeneity should be considered as exploratory and requiring confirmation, not conclusive.
anaemia, anthropometry, growth, height-for-age, iron deficiency, iron supplementation, meta-analysis, randomised controlled trials, weight-for-age, weight-for-height
1368-9800
904-920
Sachdev, H.P.S.
8667f0cc-a69a-4f5d-b140-14e06edd7894
Gera, Tarun
15530368-f679-4c76-a7b6-365c48339f2b
Nestel, Penelope
64dfcf3f-2e0f-4653-9fdf-1a48f1c99a1e
Sachdev, H.P.S.
8667f0cc-a69a-4f5d-b140-14e06edd7894
Gera, Tarun
15530368-f679-4c76-a7b6-365c48339f2b
Nestel, Penelope
64dfcf3f-2e0f-4653-9fdf-1a48f1c99a1e

Sachdev, H.P.S., Gera, Tarun and Nestel, Penelope (2006) Effect of iron supplementation on physical growth in children: systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Public Health Nutrition, 9 (7), 904-920. (doi:10.1017/PHN2005918).

Record type: Article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of iron supplementation on physical growth in children through a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases, personal files, and hand search of reviews, bibliographies of books, abstracts and proceedings of international conferences. REVIEW METHODS: RCTs evaluating change in anthropometry with interventions that included oral or parenteral iron supplementation, or iron-fortified formula milk or cereals, were analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-five trials (26 cohorts) had relevant information. There was no evidence of publication bias. The pooled estimates (random effects model) did not document a statistically significant (P>0.05) positive effect of iron supplementation on any anthropometric variable (weight-for-age, weight-for-height, height-for-age, mid upper-arm circumference, skinfold thickness, head circumference). Significant heterogeneity was evident, and its predictors included greater weight-for-age in supplemented children in malaria hyperendemic regions and greater weight-for-height for children above 5 years of age, but a negative effect on linear growth in developed countries and with supplementation for 6 months or longer. CONCLUSIONS: This review did not document a positive effect of iron supplementation on the physical growth of children. The identified predictors of heterogeneity should be considered as exploratory and requiring confirmation, not conclusive.

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More information

Published date: October 2006
Keywords: anaemia, anthropometry, growth, height-for-age, iron deficiency, iron supplementation, meta-analysis, randomised controlled trials, weight-for-age, weight-for-height

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 61486
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/61486
ISSN: 1368-9800
PURE UUID: fb2146f4-8233-4635-a83f-f6c3f54e2591

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Date deposited: 02 Oct 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 11:26

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Contributors

Author: H.P.S. Sachdev
Author: Tarun Gera
Author: Penelope Nestel

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