The Effect of Iron Therapy on the Growth of Iron‐replete and Iron‐deplete Children

This prospective, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial was designed to study the effect of iron therapy on the growth of iron‐replete and iron‐deficient children, and to study the change in iron status in iron‐deficient children with iron therapy. One hundred and fifty children (aged 6–24 months) were included in the study. After an informed written consent, 100 healthy children, who were iron replete (group I) according to preset criteria, were randomly allocated to receive iron supplements 2 mg/kg/day (group IA) or placebo (group IB). Fifty iron‐deficient children (group II) were administered iron syrup 6 mg/kg/day. Growth parameters (weight, length and head‐circumference) and hematological parameters were studied for 4 months. Iron therapy, as compared with placebo, produced a significant improvement of mean monthly weight gain (p < 0.001) and linear growth (p < 0.001) in the iron‐deficient children. However, it significantly decreased the weight gain (p < 0.001) and linear growth (p < 0.001) of iron‐replete children. Caution should therefore be exercised while supplementing iron to children with apparently normal growth and when the iron status of the child is not known.