Intervention and follow up
ADVERSE EVENTS
Participants were randomized to oral iron supplementation with ferrous ascorbate in either once daily (100 mg of elemental iron once daily i.e., 100 mg total daily dose, referred to as OD group) or twice daily (100 mg elemental iron twice daily i.e., 200 mg total daily dose, referred to as BD group) dosing for 12 weeks. They were instructed to take drug empty stomach at least 1 h prior to the meals. Participants were scheduled for follow up visits at 2, 5 and 12 weeks after baseline visit. Participants were deemed compliant if they had taken > 90% of the dispensed doses. Participants were encouraged to report any change in their health status till 2 weeks after completion of study period. All adverse events were recorded. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks and 12 weeks. Samples collected at baseline and 12 weeks were also processed for storage at − 80 °C.