Zinc and Iron: study protocols
55 study groups took Zinc together with Iron. These are the doses the studies gave. They are not a recommendation.
Dose per serving from research: Zinc
55 study groups in 46 studies say how much Zinc participants took a day.
These are the doses the studies gave. They are not a recommendation.
Most common: 5 mg to 10 mg, 45% of 55 study groups.
| Daily dose | Study groups |
|---|---|
| 2.5 mg to 5 mg | 13 |
| 5 mg to 10 mg | 25 |
| 10 mg to 25 mg | 10 |
| 25 mg to 50 mg | 7 |
Dose per serving from research: Iron
51 study groups in 43 studies say how much Iron participants took a day.
These are the doses the studies gave. They are not a recommendation.
Most common: 5 mg to 10 mg, 45% of 51 study groups.
| Daily dose | Study groups |
|---|---|
| 2.5 mg to 5 mg | 4 |
| 5 mg to 10 mg | 23 |
| 10 mg to 25 mg | 10 |
| 25 mg to 50 mg | 6 |
| 50 mg to 100 mg | 8 |
Commonly used together
39 of 55 study groups took Zinc and Iron with something else. Shown: what 3 or more different studies gave. The 10 most common of 16.
What was given together, not what works together.
| Taken with | Study groups |
|---|---|
| Vitamin A | 23 |
| Folic Acid | 18 |
| Copper | 11 |
| Vitamin C | 11 |
| Vitamin B12 | 9 |
| Iodine | 7 |
| Vitamin D | 7 |
| Vitamin E | 7 |
| Vitamin B6 | 6 |
| Riboflavin | 5 |
55 study groups
| Study | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effect of prenatal zinc supplementation on birthweight 2009 · Iron-zinc group · Pregnant women recruited by 16 weeks’ gestation in Ghana; age range 16–44 years; no stated diagnosed condition, with women taking other zinc supplements or with severe anaemia excluded. | 20 mg | 20 mg | — | 299 |
| Effects of iron and zinc supplementation in Indonesian infants on micronutrient status and growth 2001 · iron + zinc · Indonesian infants, 4 months of age | 10 mg | 10 mg | 26 weeks | — |
| Combined iron and zinc supplementation in infants improved iron and zinc status, but interactions reduced efficacy in a multicountry trial in southeast Asia 2007 · iron and zinc · Infants aged 4–6 months | 10 mg | 10 mg | 26 weeks | — |
| Predictors of Anaemia Among Young Children Receiving Daily Micronutrient Powders (MNPs) for 24 Weeks in Bangladesh: A Secondary Analysis of the Zinc in Powders Trial 2025 · standard MNP daily group · Children aged 9–11 months at enrolment in Bangladesh | 4.1 mg | 10 mg | 24 weeks | 481 |
| Home-fortification with iron and zinc sprinkles or iron sprinkles alone successfully treats anemia in infants and young children 2003 · FeZn (combined supplementation group) · Anemic infants in rural Ghana; mean age 10.3 ± 2.5 months | 10 mg | 80 mg | 60 days | — |
| Simultaneous weekly supplementation of iron and zinc is associated with lower morbidity due to diarrhea and acute lower respiratory infection in Bangladeshi infants 2003 · 20 mg iron and 20 mg zinc with 1 mg riboflavin · Infants aged 6 months at enrollment, followed until 12 months | 2.86 mg | 2.86 mg | 183 days | — |
| Simultaneous weekly supplementation of iron and zinc is associated with lower morbidity due to diarrhea and acute lower respiratory infection in Bangladeshi infants 2003 · Micronutrient mix (MM) · Infants aged 6 months at enrollment, followed until 12 months | 2.86 mg | 2.86 mg | 183 days | — |
| A community-based randomized controlled trial of iron and zinc supplementation in Indonesian infants: effects on growth and development 2004 · Fe+Zn group · Indonesian infants aged 6–12 months | 10 mg | 10 mg | 26 weeks | — |
| Zinc-iron, but not zinc-alone supplementation, increased linear growth of stunted infants with low haemoglobin 2007 · zinc+iron · Infants aged 3–6 months in rural East Lombok; the study included infants with stunting and low haemoglobin | 10 mg | 10 mg | 26 weeks | — |
| Impact of iron fortification on anaemia and iron deficiency among pre-school children living in Rural Ghana 2021 · iron-MNP group · Children aged 6–35 months living in rural Ghana; children with severe anaemia, severe malnutrition, recent iron supplementation, or chronic disease were excluded. | 5 mg | 12.5 mg | 150 days | 967 |