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Effect Of Joint Iron And Zinc Supplementation On Malarial Infection And Anaemia
Abstract
Design: A double-blind, randomised controlled trial (RCT) conducted in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
Results: Iron-zinc supplementation reduced the risk of increased malaria parasitaemia associated with high maternal serum ferritin and Hb concentrations. Iron-zinc supplementation was associated with reduced malaria parasite densities, F (1, 20) = 4.744, p = 0.042. Iron and
zinc provided in the ratio of 1:1 prevented a significant decline in maternal iron stores of pregnant women. Adjusted geometric mean serum
ferritin concentration in the Iron-zinc Group was significantly higher than in the Control Group (22.9 fg/L versus 16.9 fg/L), F (1, 156) =
6.336, p = 0.013
Conclusions: Joint iron and zinc supplementation appears to be a better option than iron-only supplementation in malaria-endemic areas.