New Zealand researchers say they have discovered a simple way to reduce the incidence of infant anemia, which afflicts the lives of millions of children in developing countries.

Mixing powdered iron and other micronutrients into food reduced rates of anemia beyond what nutrition education alone could achieve, the researchers found after a study among 3,112 infants in Cambodia.

The researchers provided sachets of micronutrient powder, or " sprinkles," to rural families to mix with home-prepared foods for the 6-month-old infants, a statement from New Zealand's Otago University said Wednesday.

Study lead author Dr Susan Jack said iron deficiency anemia in infants was a global health problem affecting developed and developing countries, but had its greatest impact in poorer parts of the world.

"Anemia represents a major public health concern as it can cause cognitive and learning difficulties and is associated with increased mortality," said Jack in the statement.

An estimated 55 percent of Cambodian children younger than 5 years were anaemic and 40 percent had stunted growth, she said.

Children given the sprinkles for 12 months were 20 percent less likely to develop anemia than the children of families who just received nutrition education.

After 12 and 18 months, iron deficiency prevalence, a risk factor for developing anemia, was reduced by 24 percent and 12 percent respectively in the sprinkles group, said the statement.

"This study provides clear evidence supporting the roll-out of sprinkles as a micronutrient intervention in Cambodia and similar settings. Our findings also help build the case for sprinkles to be used until at least 18 months of age, and preferably to age 2, so that this period of greatest vulnerability to anemia and iron deficiency can be fully covered," said Jack.

The researchers planned to continue surveys to monitor the effectiveness of sprinkles in reducing anemia as the intervention was rolled out through more of the country's provinces.

The findings have been published online in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.