Effect of Iron Supplementation in Partial Breastfed Infants- A Randomized Control Trial

Objectives: To study effect of iron supplementation on growth, hematological profile, and morbidity pattern in partial breastfed infants. Methods: This is a Randomized double blind study Setting: Teaching hospital Lucknow. Methods: Partially breastfed infants were enrolled at 31⁄2 months±2wks after obtaining approval from Institutional ethical Committee and informed consent from parents They were randomized to receive iron and placebo respectively for a duration of 5 months daily .Follow up was done at 6 and 9 months . Growth and hematological parameters and morbidity data if any were recorded. Results: Weight, length, growth velocity and increments in anthropometric indices did not differ statistically among supplemented groups. At 9 months, hematological indices Mean Corpuscular Value (MCV) was 80.66+4.55 and 78.63+4.43 (t 2.20,p value 0.03 ) ,Serum iron was 102.58±18.43 and 79.41±22.96 (t=2.94,pvalue 0.004*) ,Serum ferritin was 78.52±21.02 and 61.20±16.85(t= 4.96 p-value 0.0001*) in supplemented and nonsupplemented group respectively. There was a significant decrease in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI) and incidence of pneumonia was slightly lower in iron-supplemented group. However occurrence and duration of other morbidities did not differ statistically among groups. Conclusion: Iron supplementation does not effect growth in partial breastfed infants . However stores were optimized and incidence of upper respiratory tract infections decreased in these infants.