Daily Multivitamins with Iron to Prevent Anemia in Infancy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This study assessed the effectiveness of multivitamins (MV) with iron as prophylaxis against iron deficiency (ID) and anemia in infancy. The study was a double-blind, randomized trial at 2 urban primary care clinics. Subjects included healthy, full-term infants enrolled at their 6-month well-child visit. Parents administered MV, either with iron or without iron, by mouth daily for 3 months. At 9 months of age, 28.3% of 310 had either anemia or ID without anemia. Among infants with any adherence, anemia was found in 11.1% of the iron group and 21.7% in the noniron group (RR=0.5, 95% CI=0.3-1.0). Iron deficiency without anemia was found in 18.5% of the iron group; 14.4% of the noniron group (p=0.46). When administered daily starting at age 6 months, standard-dose multivitamins with iron appear to reduce anemia prevalence at 9 months of age.