Table 2.
Baseline characteristics by intervention group of per protocol analysis
| MNP + Fe | MNP − Fe | Both | |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | 144 | 143 | 287 |
| Age (months) | 6.0 ± 1.1 | 6.0 ± 1.1 | 6.0 ± 1.1 |
| Sex (male) | 74 (51.4%) | 72 (50.3%) | 146 (50.9%) |
| Haemoglobin (g L–1) | 104.1 ± 10.5 | 102.1 ± 10.6 | 103.0 ± 10.5 |
| Zinc protoporphyrin (μmol mol–1 haem) | 85.1 ± 1.6* | 103.8 ± 1.8 | 94.1 ± 1.7 |
| Serum ferritin (ng mL–1) | |||
| All children | 34.1 ± 1.8 | 27.8 ± 2.0 | 30.9 ± 1.9 |
| Children without inflammation † | 30.5 ± 1.7 | 25.2 ± 2.1 | 27.8 ± 1.9 |
| Soluble transferrin receptor (mg L–1) | 8.6 ± 1.2* | 9.6 ± 1.2 | 9.1 ± 1.2 |
| C‐reactive protein (mg L–1) | 4.9 ± 1.7 | 3.7 ± 1.4 | 4.3 ± 1.6 |
| Inflammation † | 45 (31.2%) | 44 (30.8%) | 89 (31.0%) |
| Anaemia ‡ | 99 (68.8%) | 104 (72.7%) | 203 (70.7%) |
| ID § | 18 (12.8%)** | 43 (30.9%) | 61 (21.8%) |
| IDA ¶ | 15 (10.6%)** | 38 (27.3%) | 53 (18.9%) |
| Weight baseline (kg) | 7.3 ± 1.1 | 7.3 ± 1.1 | 7.3 ± 1.1 |
| Length baseline (cm) | 64.8 ± 1.0 | 64.1 ± 1.1 | 64.4 ± 1.1 |
| Birthweight (kg) | 3.2 ± 1.0 | 3.1 ± 1.0 | 3.2 ± 1.0 |
| Body iron stores (mg kg–1) | 3.26 ± 1.0* | 1.86 ± 1.0 | 2.57 ± 1.0 |
Data are geometric means ± SD or number (%) unless indicated otherwise. ID, iron deficiency; IDA, iron deficiency anaemia; MNP + Fe, micronutrient powder with iron; MNP − Fe, micronutrient powder without iron. *Different from control (MNP − Fe), P < 0.05 using t‐test. **Different from control (MNP − Fe), P < 0.05 using Pearson's chi‐square test. †CRP ≥ 4.1 mg L–1. ‡Hb <110 g L–1. §Body iron stores (mg kg–1) < 0. ¶Concurrent ID and anaemia.