[en] Full text: Introduction: Moderate malnutrition with micronutrient deficiency is common in Sri Lanka. Data indicate a third of pregnant mothers and half of infants are anaemic and third of infants vitamin A deficient. A preliminary analysis of data from a study conducted to assess the vitamin A and iron status and effects of supplementation on growth in 6 month old children is presented here. Materials and Methods: Term singleton healthy 6 month old infants were recruited from the Colombo Municipal Area. An interviewer administered pre-tested questionnaire, was used to collect data on their basic information and feeding practices. Baseline vitamin A, haemoglobin, serum ferritin and C-reactive protein were assessed. Children were given 100,000 units of vitamin A orally and 3mg/kg daily dose of iron till 9 months of age and all assessments were repeated. Serum retinol concentration was assessed by reverse phase HPLC. Baseline information was analyzed for n = 95 babies, 53 boys) at 6 months and paired data(n = 53) to analyze effects of intervention. Babies were divided into those with and without MAM at 6 months. Student’s t test was used to compare. Results: At 6 months, the mean weight was 7.1±1.0kg with SDS of -0.72±1.1, and length was 68.1±3.4cm with SDS of 0.61±1.5. 30 babies had MAM at 6 months (out of 95). Mean vitamin A level was 34.8±7.9μg/dl and the mean haemoglobin was 11.4±0.98g/dl. Two babies had low vitamin A levels(<20μg/dl) and 41 were anaemic<11.0g/dl). Mean serum ferritin was 21.7±19.6μg/l at 6 months(data of 82 babies) and 56 had low levels (<12μg/l). Of the 53 pairs with pre and post intervention data, MAM was present in 16 at 6 months and 19 at 9 months. Of the latter, 6 babies had developed MAM during the study period. This change was significant (p< 0.001) against only 3 babies who overcame MAM at post intervention. There was a significant reduction in the serum vitamin A concentration (pre vs. post intervention, 35.01±7.9μg/dl vs. 29.2±5.8μg/dl; p<0.001) but not in the haemoglobin. There were no significant differences in both iron and vitamin A status following supplementation in the MAM and non-MAM groups. Conclusions: The incidence of MAM and anaemia was high but vitamin A levels were normal. Despite vitamin A mega dose the mean Vitamin A level had reduced significantly at 9 months. During the 3 month follow-up a significant number developed MAM. Although iron supplementation had positive results, vitamin A supplementation did not, at 9 months. This analysis did not identify differences in the response to micronutrient supplementation in babies with and without MAM. Larger studies are, required to identify reasons for reduction in vitamin A status and inadequate growth despite supplementation of 2 important micro nutrients. (author)