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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Jul 31;17(15):2520.
doi: 10.3390/nu17152520.

Serum Hemoglobin Level, Anemia, and Growth Were Unaffected by a 12-Month Multiple-Micronutrient Powder Intervention Among Children Aged 8-10 Months in a Low-Socioeconomic-Status Community of Jakarta

Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Serum Hemoglobin Level, Anemia, and Growth Were Unaffected by a 12-Month Multiple-Micronutrient Powder Intervention Among Children Aged 8-10 Months in a Low-Socioeconomic-Status Community of Jakarta

Dian Novita Chandra et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Anemia and stunting are major public health concerns for young Indonesian children. Limited information is available from studies on multi-micronutrient supplements in Indonesia. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of 12-month multi-micronutrient powder (MNP) supplementation on serum hemoglobin levels, anemia, and growth. Methods: A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study was performed, including 232 eligible children aged 8-10 months old. Children with severe anemia or stunting/those classed as underweight were not included as subjects. The study was performed in a low-socioeconomic-status community in Jakarta. With an active-to-placebo ratio of 60:40, 139 subjects received MNP sachets twice/day, and 93 subjects received placebo sachets, mixed with complementary food. The outcome parameters were hemoglobin level, anemia, and growth indicators. Per-protocol analysis was performed for 179 (intervention: 110; control: 69) subjects. Results: There were no differences at baseline between the groups, except for the weight-for-length z-scores (WLZ). Upon intervention, the serum hemoglobin level and anemia proportion did not change significantly within the group, and no significant differences were found between the groups (p > 0.05). However, subgroup analysis of non-anemic children at baseline showed a significant increase in hemoglobin levels in the youngest age group (8.0-8.9 months old) receiving MNP compared to placebo (0.13 vs. -0.79, p = 0.031). Iron deficiency anemia proportion showed a similar upward trend upon intervention in both groups. No significant differences in growth were found between both groups. Conclusions: This study failed to find a significant effect of 12-month MNP supplementation on serum hemoglobin level, anemia, and growth.

Keywords: anemia; growth; hemoglobin level; infants 8–10 months; multi-micronutrient powder.

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Conflict of interest statement

The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Data collection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trial profile.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Proportion of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among anemic subjects during the intervention period.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Subgroup analysis in anemic subjects at baseline (8.0–8.9 months old: control n = 5, intervention = 7; 9.0–9.9 months old: control n = 8, intervention n = 14; and 10.0–10.9 months old: control n = 7, intervention n = 9). Delta of Hemoglobin levels at 12 month intervention in the subjects belonging to either the control or the intervention group, segmented according to age at baseline (mean values and 95% confidence intervals are given). (b) Subgroup analysis in non-anemic subjects at baseline (8.0–8.9 months old: control n = 9, intervention n = 22; 9.0–9.9 months old: control n = 18, intervention n = 32; and 10.0–10.9 months old: control n = 20, intervention n = 24). Delta of Hemoglobin levels at 12 month intervention in the subjects belonging to either the control or the intervention group, segmented according to age at baseline (mean values and 95% confidence intervals are given).

References

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