Iron supplemented formula milk prevented iron deficiency anaemia and reduced developmental declines in infants from inner city areas
QUESTION: Does iron supplemented formula milk, compared with unmodified cows' milk, prevent iron deficiency anaemia and improve psychomotor developmental outcomes in infants from an inner city area?
Design
Randomised {allocation concealed}*, blinded (outcome assessor), controlled trial with follow up at age 24 months.
Setting
An inner city area of Birmingham, UK. The area was described as socially deprived, with high unemployment, poor housing, and poor public amenities.
Patients
100 full term infants (mean age 7.8 mo, 53% girls, 75% white) identified by health visitors working in the area, whose mothers had already changed their infant's diet to unmodified cows' milk. Follow up was 85% at 24 months.
Intervention
50 infants were allocated to iron supplemented formula milk (1.2 mg iron/100 ml) until 18 months of age and then were switched back to unmodified cows' milk until 24 months of age. 50 …
