TY - JOUR
T1 - Iron and zinc supplementation promote motor development and exploratory behavior among Bangladeshi infants
AU - Black, Maureen M.
AU - Baqui, Abdullah H.
AU - Zaman, K.
AU - Persson, Lars Ake
AU - El Arifeen, Shams E.
AU - Le, Katherine
AU - McNary, Scot W.
AU - Parveen, Monowara
AU - Hamadani, Jena D.
AU - Black, Robert E.
PY - 2004/10
Y1 - 2004/10
N2 - Background: Iron and zinc deficiency are prevalent during infancy in low-income countries. Objectives: The objectives were to examine whether a weekly supplement of iron, zinc, iron+zinc, ora micronutrient mix (MM) of 16 vitamins and minerals would alter infant development and behavior. Design: The participants were 221 infants from rural Bangladesh at risk of micronutrient deficiencies. Development and behavior were evaluated at 6 and 12 mo of age by using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II and the Home Observation Measurement of Environment (HOME) scale. In this double-blind trial, the infants were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatment conditions: iron (20 mg), zinc (20 mg), iron+zinc, MM (16 vitamins and minerals, including iron and zinc), or riboflavin weekly from 6 to 12 mo. Multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the change in development and behavior for each supplementation group, with control for maternal education, HOME score, months breastfed, anemia, growth at 6 mo, and change in growth from 6 to 12 mo. Results: Iron and zinc administered together and with other micronutrients had a beneficial effect on infant motor development. Iron and zinc administered individually and in combination had a beneficial effect on orientation-engagement. Two-thirds of the infants were mildly anemic, no treatment effects on hemoglobin concentration were observed, and hemoglobin was not associated with measures of development or behavior. Conclusion: The beneficial effects of weekly iron and zinc supplementation on motor development and orientation-engagement suggest that infants benefit from these minerals when administered together.
AB - Background: Iron and zinc deficiency are prevalent during infancy in low-income countries. Objectives: The objectives were to examine whether a weekly supplement of iron, zinc, iron+zinc, ora micronutrient mix (MM) of 16 vitamins and minerals would alter infant development and behavior. Design: The participants were 221 infants from rural Bangladesh at risk of micronutrient deficiencies. Development and behavior were evaluated at 6 and 12 mo of age by using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II and the Home Observation Measurement of Environment (HOME) scale. In this double-blind trial, the infants were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatment conditions: iron (20 mg), zinc (20 mg), iron+zinc, MM (16 vitamins and minerals, including iron and zinc), or riboflavin weekly from 6 to 12 mo. Multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the change in development and behavior for each supplementation group, with control for maternal education, HOME score, months breastfed, anemia, growth at 6 mo, and change in growth from 6 to 12 mo. Results: Iron and zinc administered together and with other micronutrients had a beneficial effect on infant motor development. Iron and zinc administered individually and in combination had a beneficial effect on orientation-engagement. Two-thirds of the infants were mildly anemic, no treatment effects on hemoglobin concentration were observed, and hemoglobin was not associated with measures of development or behavior. Conclusion: The beneficial effects of weekly iron and zinc supplementation on motor development and orientation-engagement suggest that infants benefit from these minerals when administered together.
KW - Bangladesh
KW - Functional isolation
KW - Infant development
KW - Iron
KW - Micronutrient supplementation
KW - Zinc
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U2 - 10.1093/ajcn/80.4.903
DO - 10.1093/ajcn/80.4.903
M3 - Article
C2 - 15447897
AN - SCOPUS:5144227995
SN - 0002-9165
VL - 80
SP - 903
EP - 910
JO - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
JF - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
IS - 4
ER -