For decades, children at risk of not getting enough iron have been given iron supplements. Now, scientists understand that other vitamins and minerals are important, too. So in recent years, mothers of at-risk children have been getting little packets loaded with these important micronutrients to supplement their youngsters' usual diet. World Health Organization epidemiologist Luz Maria De Regil says they are easy to use.

"Basically they just sprinkle the powders into the foods, into the baby's foods," she says. "So the idea is fortifying the food at home or at any other place of consumption without changing the physical characteristics of the foods."

De Regil and other researchers combined the results of eight previous studies involving thousands of children. The studies were done on three continents, in countries as varied as Haiti, Cambodia and Ghana.

This systematic review found that the micronutrient powder was helpful in preventing malnutrition.

"The use of multiple micronutrient powders is a very good option to fortify the infant food and reduce anemia and iron deficiency in children aged six months to two years of age," De Regil says.

Specifically, the supplement powder reduced anemia by about one-third and iron deficiency by half compared to no supplement or a placebo.

Compared with traditional iron supplements, however, the results were less clear. The micronutrient powder seem to be about equally effective as iron supplements, but the authors say that conclusion should be treated "cautiously," because of limited data.

From the September 9, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News.