A RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF EARLY CORRECTION OF LATENT IRON DEFICIENCY IN INFANTS

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of early iron supplementation in exclusively breastfed infants with a low incidence of malaria. Materials and methods. The study involved 21 infants, of whom 10 received iron supplements and 11 received placebo. The methodology included a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial using standard laboratory methods to evaluate hematological parameters and blood biochemistry. The results of the study. The results showed a significant increase in serum iron concentration, improved iron metabolism, and increased hemoglobin levels in children receiving supplements compared with the control group. The recommendations of the study include the introduction of early therapy for the prevention of iron deficiency anemia, as well as the optimization of biomarker monitoring.