Prevention of iron deficiency by milk fortification. II. A field trial with a full-fat acidified milk

Am J Clin Nutr. 1988 Feb;47(2):265-9. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/47.2.265.

Abstract

In a longitudinal study from age 3 to 15 mo, 276 term, healthy, spontaneously weaned infants received a full-fat acidified milk fortified with 15 mg of elemental Fe as ferrous sulfate and 100 mg of ascorbic acid/100 g of powder and 278 control infants received milk without additives. At ages 9 and 15 mo significant differences were encountered in all measures of Fe nutriture in favor of the fortified group (p less than 0.001). Anemia (Hg less than 110 g/L) was present in 25.7% of unfortified infants compared with only 2.5% in those fortified at age 15 mo. Saturation of transferrin less than 9% was present in 33.8% and serum ferritin less than 10 micrograms/L in 39.1% of the nonfortified infants. The figures for the fortified group were 7 and 8.5% respectively. The efficiency of the fortified acidified milk in eradicating Fe deficiency in the infants while discouraging use by other family members make this milk a useful targeted product in programs of supplementary food distribution in the underdeveloped world.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Hypochromic / blood
  • Anemia, Hypochromic / prevention & control*
  • Animals
  • Chile
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Food, Fortified*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Food*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Milk*
  • Random Allocation
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Urban Population