Daily versus intermittent iron supplementation among children with iron deficiency anemia: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate daily versus intermittent iron supplementation among children.

Methods: The author searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar for randomized controlled trials and compared daily versus intermittent iron supplementation. The keywords iron deficiency anemia, iron therapy, daily, twice per week, and once weekly were used. The search was limited to the period January 2012 up to November 2023. The age of participant range from two months to 18 years.

Result: Out of the 735 studies, 540 were eligible after removal of duplication, of them, 28 full texts were screened and only 10 studies were included. Daily iron supplementation was better in improving hemoglobin odd ratio, 0.41, 95 CI, 0.38-0.44, Z=26.53, and p-Value <0.001 than intermittent prescription odd ratio, 0.69, 95 CI, 0.67-0.72, Z=49.98, and P-value < 0.001.

Conclusion: Daily supplementation increased hemoglobin more compared to weekly or twice/week among children with iron deficiency anemia. Further larger studies assessing tolerance and compliance are needed.

Keywords: Children; Daily; Intermittent; Iron deficiency anemia; Iron supplementation.

Fig.1

Daily versus weekly iron supplementation (the PRISMA Chart).

Fig.2

Daily versus weekly iron supplementation in children with iron deficiency anemia (unsupervised).

Fig.3

Daily versus intermittent iron supplementations (supervised).