[Evaluation of the impact of iron treatment. Interference of malaria]

In Togo, where malaria occurs all the year, 151 children, from 6 months to 3 years old, were distributed in 2 groups, one of which received an iron supplementation during three months, and the other a placebo during the same time. At the end of the trial, no significant difference was observed between the two groups. However, taking into account malaria infection at the end of the trial, children who received iron supplementation and who were free of malaria infection showed improvement of their haematological status when compared to children receiving placebo and also free of malaria infection. Authors presumed that iron supplementation was masked by malaria when they evaluated effect of iron supplementation on anaemia.