M-A | Oral iron supplementation and anemia in children according to schedule, duration, dose and cosupplementation
7 Mar, 2023 | 12:53h | UTCSummary:
The article is a systematic review and meta-analysis of 129 randomized trials on iron supplementation and anemia in children. The study aimed to identify the optimal schedule, duration, dose, and cosupplementation regimen for iron supplementation in children and adolescents aged under 20 years.
The results showed that frequent (3-7 times/week) and intermittent (1-2 times/week) iron supplementation could be equally effective at increasing hemoglobin and decreasing anemia, iron deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia.
The study supports WHO recommendations regarding the frequency, duration, and dose of iron supplementation, including 3 months annually of daily oral iron supplementation for children aged 6 months to 12 years living in regions with a high burden of anemia. However, it also suggests that weekly iron supplementation might be considered an alternative to the recommended daily regimen in some contexts, given evidence of similar efficacy.