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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Jul;17(7):1578-86.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980013001742. Epub 2013 Jul 2.

Home fortification with calcium reduces Hb response to iron among anaemic Bangladeshi infants consuming a new multi-micronutrient powder formulation

Waqas Ullah Khan  1 , Sohana Shafique  1 , Hasina Shikder  2 , Yaseer Abdul Shakur  1 , Daniel W Sellen  1 , Jalal S Chowdhury  2 , Stanley H Zlotkin  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Home fortification with calcium reduces Hb response to iron among anaemic Bangladeshi infants consuming a new multi-micronutrient powder formulation

Waqas Ullah Khan et al. Public Health Nutr. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether the recommended dietary intake of Ca in anaemic infants compromises the expected Hb response, via home fortification with a new Ca- and Fe-containing Sprinkles™ micronutrient powder (MNP).

Design: A double-blind, randomized controlled, 2-month trial was conducted in Bangladesh. Infants were randomized to one of two MNP intervention groups containing Fe and other micronutrients, with or without Ca. Hb, anthropometrics and dietary intake were measured pre- and post-intervention while family demographics were collected at baseline.

Setting: Twenty-six rural villages in the Kaliganj sub-district of Gazipur, Bangladesh.

Subjects: One hundred infants aged 6-11 months.

Results: A significant increase in Hb (MNP, 13·3 (sd 12·6) g/l v. Ca-MNP, 7·6 (sd 11·6) g/l; P < 0·0001) was noted in infants from both groups. However, infants receiving MNP without Ca had a significantly higher end-point Hb concentration (P = 0·024) and rate of anaemia recovery (P = 0·008). Infants receiving MNP with Ca were more likely to remain anaemic (OR 3·2; 95 % CI 1·4, 7·5). Groups did not differ in dietary intake or demographic and anthropometric indicators.

Conclusions: Although both groups showed significant improvement in Hb status, the nutrient-nutrient interaction between Fe and Ca may have diminished the Hb response in infants receiving the Ca-containing MNP.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram illustrating the number of infants screened, excluded and randomly assigned, and the temporal pattern of dropouts, for each group
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Number of infants anaemic (Hb < 100 g/l) at baseline (formula image) and remaining anaemic (formula image) at the end of the 2-month intervention period by intervention group (MNP group, received Sprinkles micronutrient powder containing iron, zinc, folic acid, ascorbic acid and vitamin A; Ca-MNP group, received the same powder with calcium); infants aged 6–11 months (n 95) from twenty-six rural villages of Kaliganj sub-district, Gazipur region, Bangladesh, April–June 2010. *Significantly more infants in the Ca-MNP group remained anaemic (χ 2 test): P = 0·0076
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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