EffectofDailySupplementationwithIronandZinconIronStatus of Childbearing Age Women

The objective was to determine the effect of daily supplementation with 30 mg of iron (Fe) plus 30 mg of zinc (Zn) for 3 months on Fe status of women of childbearing age. This was a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eighty-one women (18-45 years) were randomly assigned to receive either a daily single dose of 30 mg of Fe (group 1; n= 28) and 30 mg of Fe plus 30 mg of Zn (group 2; n=26) or placebo (n=27) for 3 months. Hemoglobin (Hb), mean cor- puscular volume, serum Fe, total iron-binding capacity, trans- ferrin saturation, erythrocyte Zn protoporphyrin, serum ferri- tin(SF),serumtransferrinreceptor(TfR),totalbodyFe,serum Zn, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. At baseline, 3.7, 28.4, and 3.7 % of women had iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), Fe defi- ciency without anemia, and depleted Fe stores, respectively. No significant differences on Fe status were found between groups before supplementation. After supplementation, group 2 showed a significant increase of Hb and total body Fe and a significant decrease of TfR compared with placebo (p<0.05). Moreover, serum Zn increased significantly in group 2 com- pared with group 1 (p<0.01) and placebo (p<0.01). In con- clusion,dailysupplementationwith30mgofFeplus30mgof Znfor3monthsimprovedsignificantlytheFeandZnstatusof women, compared with those who received placebo. The pos- itive effect of Fe supplementation on Fe status is enhanced by combined Zn supplementation.