Effect of IFSS
All studies individually showed positive effects
of IFSS by reducing the anemia rates and increasing
the Hb levels compared with the non-IFSS groups of
different age and at-risk groups in different regions
with 2-18 months of interventions. Result from this
meta-analysis strongly supported the results shown
in Figures 4 and 5. There seemed to be less sufficient
research and data available to further support the
subgroup analysis, such as age, iron dosage, region,
intervention time log or anemia rates, and Hb levels
at baseline. Only one of the 16 studies mentioned
about complaints of subjects regarding the taste of
IFSS, which was not supported by other organoleptic
observations on IFSS. No other adverse effects were
reported in the selected studies.