A Cochrane review included 2 studies (conducted in Jordan and India) with a total of 87 children. Iron supplementation significantly reduced the frequency of breath-holding attacks in children (OR 76.48, 95% CI 15.65 to 373.72). A meta-analysis that solely examined iron supplementation causing complete resolution of breath-holding attacks maintained this significance (OR 53.43, 95% CI 6.57 to 434.57). Supplementation was of particular benefit in children with iron deficiency anaemia; responses correlated with the improvements in haemoglobin values.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment and lack of blinding), and by imprecise results (few patients and wide confidence intervals).