A community-based randomized controlled trial providing weekly iron-folic acid supplementation increased serum- ferritin, -folate and hemoglobin concentration of adolescent girls in southern Ethiopia.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) in improving serum ferritin, serum folate, and hemoglobin levels among adolescent girls.
Results Summary
The study found that WIFAS significantly increased hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and serum folate concentrations in the intervention group compared to the control group, reducing marginal iron stores from 49% to 12% after three months. The improvements were statistically significant and clinically meaningful.
Population
Adolescent girls aged 10-19 years in four villages of Wolaita and Hadiya zones.
Effective Dosage
Weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (specific dosage not mentioned in the abstract).
Duration
3 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
community-based weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) | increase | Hb concentration | adolescent girls | - | increased | #1 |
community-based weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) | increase | serum ferritin (SF) | adolescent girls | - | increased | #2 |
community-based weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) | increase | serum folate (SFol) | adolescent girls | - | increased | #3 |
community-based weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) | decrease | Marginal iron store | adolescent girls | from 49 to 12% | decreased | #4 |
community-based weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) | increase | serum folate | adolescent girls | 4.10 ng/ml | was associated with an improvement of | #5 |
community-based weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) | increase | serum ferritin | adolescent girls | 39.1 μg/l | was associated with an improvement of | #6 |
community-based weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) | increase | hemoglobin concentration | adolescent girls | 1.2 g/dl | was associated with an improvement of | #7 |
community-based weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) | decrease | iron and folate deficiency | adolescent girls | - | was effective in reducing | #8 |
Adequate micronutrient status during adolescence can break the inter-generational cycle of malnutrition. This study evaluated the effect of community-based weekly iron-folic acid supplementation (WIFAS) on serum ferritin (SF), serum folate (SFol) and hemoglobin concentration (Hb) among adolescent girls. A community-based, individually randomized-controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in four villages of Wolaita and Hadiya zones. Adolescent girls (n = 226) aged 10-19 years were recruited and randomly assigned (n = 113/group) into: (i) WIFAS and (ii) control (no intervention) groups. Anthropometry, Hb concentration, and serum ferritin (SF), SFol, and C-reactive protein (CRP) was analyzed at baseline and endline. Baseline Hb, SF, SFol and CRP concentrations were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). About 47-49% of adolescents had marginal iron store (< 50 µg/l). Hb, SF, and SFol concentrations increased in the intervention group, but not in the control group (P < 0.05). Marginal iron store decreased from 49 to 12% after 3-months of WIFAS; whereas, the proportion of adolescents with elevated SF (> 15 µg/l) was slightly higher in the WIFAS than in the control group (P = 0.06). After adjusting for confounding factors in the multiple linear regression model, a three-months WIFAS intervention was associated with an improvement of 4.10 ng/ml in serum folate, 39.1 μg/l in serum ferritin, and 1.2 g/dl in hemoglobin concentration relative to the control group (P < 0.001). WIFAS intervention for three-months was effective in reducing iron and folate deficiency in adolescent girls. Future studies should evaluate the long-term impact of intermittent WIFAS.