Iron and Zinc Supplementation and the Effects on Mother-infant Interaction
Open Access
- Author:
- Gregory, Emma C
- Area of Honors:
- Nutritional Sciences
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Laura E Murray-Kolb, Thesis Supervisor
Rebecca L Corwin, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- nutrition
iron
zinc
micronutrient supplementation
developmental psychology
mother-infant interaction
infant development - Abstract:
- Objective: The objective of this thesis was to investigate the effects of supplementing children ages 6-18 months with iron and zinc on mother-infant interaction. Methods: This study is a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Infants aged 6-18 months were recruited from a larger study investigating iron, zinc and diarrhea outcomes. Infants were randomized into the following supplementation groups: iron alone, zinc alone, iron and zinc in combination and iron and zinc separately. They were followed up at 3 and 6 months post-baseline and their mother-infant interaction was evaluated using the Emotional Availability Scales. An intent-to-treat analysis was conducted, comparing groups at each time-point (amount of change over time was not analyzed for this thesis). Blood data were taken at baseline and 6 months, but, as this was an intent-to-treat analysis, were not included in the present analysis. Socio-economic status, child age, and sex were controlled in all analyses. Results: At 3 months, infants supplemented with iron and zinc in combination performed significantly better on the Child Involvement sub-scale than those supplemented with placebo (p<0.05), zinc-alone (p<0.001), and iron and zinc supplemented separately (p<0.01). Infants supplemented with iron-alone performed better than those supplemented with zinc-alone (p<0.05). At 3 months, child supplementation with iron and zinc in combination and with iron alone had an effect on Maternal Sensitivity such that both of these groups performed better than the zinc alone infants (p<0.05). At 6 months, effects of supplementation on mother-infant interaction were not evident. Conclusions: At least transiently, when children were supplemented with iron and zinc in combination, child involvement with the parent improved. Interestingly, although mothers were not supplemented, maternal sensitivity improved as well.