Table 2. Baseline characteristics of prebiotic and probiotic fortified and control milk groups.
| PP Group (n = 312) | Co Group (n = 312) | |
| Age (mo)a | 22.2±6.4 | 22.9±6.8 |
| (21.7)b | (21.6) | |
| Age (≤24 months)c | 191 (61.2) | 191 (60.9) |
| Illiterate fatherc | 43 (13.8) | 54 (17.3) |
| Illiterate motherc | 152 (48.7) | 155 (49.7) |
| Occupation father | ||
| Daily wage laborc | 105 (33.7) | 112 (35.9) |
| Occupation mother | ||
| Housewivesc | 299 (95.8) | 301 (96.5) |
| Socio economic status scorea | 7.66±2.57 | 7.10±2.45 |
| Water supply | ||
| Tap waterc | 189 (60.6) | 195 (62.5) |
| Hematological Status | ||
| Hemoglobina , d (g/L) | 91.1±15.6 | 91.0±14.9 |
| 93.0 (61.0;114.0)e | 92.0 (63.0; 114.0) | |
| Zinc protoporphyrina , d (µmol/mole heme) | 193.46±125.65 | 199.12±124.99 |
| 151.5 (42.0; 481.7)e | 167 (55.8; 456.6) | |
| Serum transferrina , d (g/L) | 15.25±8.85 | 15.21±8.79 |
| 12.97 (5.68; 35.70)e | 13.22 (5.22; 35.49) | |
| Serum ferritina , d (µg/L) | 9.23±7.96 | 9.87±9.09 |
| 6.81 (2.29; 25.7)e | 6.75 (2.15;29.76) | |
| Redcell distribution widtha , d (%) | 19.36±2.75 | 19.35±2.68 |
| 19.1 (15.1; 24.1)e | 19.3 (14.9; 23.8) | |
| Iron deficient anemicc | 158 (54.1) | 168 (56.9) |
| Nutritional status | ||
| Normalc | 107 (34.3) | 95 (30.4) |
| Wasted and Stuntedc | 53 (17.0) | 46 (14.7) |
| Wastedc | 15 (4.8) | 14 (4.5) |
| Stuntedc | 137 (43.9) | 157(50.3) |
a
Mean±SD.
b
Median age.
c
Number (%).
d
Reference values for hematological markers: Hb>100 g/L, Zinc Protoporphyrin <80 µmol per mole of heme, serum Transferrin ≤8.3 µg/ml, serum Ferritin >12µg/L, Red Cell Distribution Width ≤14%.
e
Median (5th; 95th percentile).