Age, gender, iron and inflammation variables, faecal calprotectin and faecal pH, by group. Differences in these variables among Kenyan infants (n=155) at baseline and after 4 months of consuming daily a micronutrient powder containing either no iron (control), 5 mg of iron (Fe), or 5 mg of iron and 7.5 g GOS (FeGOS)
| Control | Fe | FeGOS | |
| Age (month) | |||
| Baseline | 7.5 (6.9, 9.1)* | 7.5 (6.9, 9.3) | 7.3 (6.9, 9.2) |
| 4 months | 11.3 (10.5, 13.0) | 11.2 (10.6, 13.1) | 11.1 (10.6, 13.1) |
| Male/Female | 28/23 | 27/25 | 22/30 |
| Haemoglobin (g/L) | |||
| Baseline | 103 (97–110)† | 103 (93–108) | 106 (102–111) |
| 4 months | 101 (93–108)a | 112 (107–122)b | 111 (103–116)b |
| Anaemia, n (%) | |||
| Baseline | 38 (75) | 41 (79) | 36 (69) |
| 4 months | 40 (83)a | 17 (35)b | 19 (42)b |
| Plasma ferritin (μg/L) | |||
| Baseline | 13.6 (8.2–28.5) | 12.6 (8.9–26.1) | 16.9 (12.6–31.3) |
| 4 months | 12.4 (8.4–26.3)a | 22.8 (17.4–33.4)b | 24.2 (16.5–36.2)b |
| Soluble transferrin receptor (mg/L) | |||
| Baseline | 10.8 (8.4–14.9) | 12.6 (8.7–16.1) | 11.6 (8.8–15.8) |
| 4 months | 12.6 (10.0–17.5)a | 9.6 (8.0–11.5)b | 8.4 (7.7–10.2)b |
| Iron deficiency anaemia, n (%) | |||
| Baseline | 35 (69) | 38 (73) | 32 (62) |
| 4 months | 35 (73)a | 13 (27)b | 18 (40)b |
| C reactive protein (mg/L) | |||
| Baseline | 1.2 (0.5–6.7) | 1.2 (0.5–3.2) | 1.2 (0.5–6.5) |
| 4 months | 1.2 (0.4–3.0) | 1.4 (0.6–3.4) | 1.4 (0.4–6.9) |
| Alpha-glycoprotein (g/L) | |||
| Baseline | 0.9 (0.7–1.6) | 1.0 (0.7–1.6) | 1.0 (0.7–1.8) |
| 4 months | 1.1 (0.7–1.9) | 1.2 (0.7–1.8) | 1.0 (0.7–1.9) |
| Faecal calprotectin (µg/g) | |||
| Baseline | 191.9 (107.0–304.7) | 202.2 (111.6–312.9) | 236.9 (120.6–322.0) |
| 3 weeks | 193.3 (100.0–321.8) | 198.8 (89.3–387.0) | 163.0 (77.8–294.2) |
| 4 months | 123.7 (45.2–245.1) | 136.1 (62.7–243.5) | 147.8 (77.2–308.6) |
| Faecal pH | |||
| Baseline | 5.7 (5.2–6.2) | 5.5 (5.0–6.1) | 5.6 (5.2–6.1) |
| 3 weeks | 5.5 (5.1–5.9)a | 5.9 (5.4–6.5)b | 5.4 (4.6–6.0)a |
| 4 months | 5.6 (5.3–6.2) | 5.6 (5.3–6.0) | 5.6 (5.3–6.0) |
For continuous variables, between-group differences at baseline were tested using one-factor analysis of variance: there were no significant baseline differences between any of the variables. Between-group differences at study endpoint were tested using analysis of covariance with baseline values as covariates. For categorical variables, between-group differences at baseline and endpoint were tested using generalised linear models. Across rows, different letter superscripts indicate significant differences; p<0.05.
*Median (min, max), all such values.
†Median (IQR), all such values.
GOS, galacto-oligosaccharides.