Weekly iron supplementation for the prevention of anemia in pre-school children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether weekly iron supplementation with ferrous sulphate heptahydrate (FeSO4) improves hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht) values and reduces anemia prevalence in 5-year-old children.
Results Summary
Iron supplementation significantly increased mean Hb and Ht values (p < 0.0001) and reduced anemia prevalence from 48.0% to 26.0% in the intervention group, while the placebo group showed no significant changes.
Population
5-year-old pre-school children (n = 135) from a public school in northeast Brazil.
Effective Dosage
50 mg elemental iron weekly
Duration
14 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
weekly iron supplementation with ferrous sulphate heptahydrate (FeSO4) | increase | Mean Hb values | 5-year-olds | p < 0.0001 | increased | #1 |
weekly iron supplementation with ferrous sulphate heptahydrate (FeSO4) | increase | Mean Ht values | 5-year-olds | p < 0.0001 | increased | #2 |
placebo | no change | Mean Hb and Ht values | 5-year-olds | no statistically significant increase | no statistically significant increase | #3 |
weekly iron supplementation with ferrous sulphate heptahydrate (FeSO4) | decrease | anemia prevalence | 5-year-olds | from 48.0% to 26.0% | reduced | #4 |
OBJECTIVE: This study analyses the impact of weekly iron supplementation with ferrous sulphate heptahydrate (FeSO4) in 5-year-olds compared with placebo, on hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht) values and anemia. DESIGN: The study concerns a cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Intervention participants received 50 mg elemental iron for 14 weeks. SETTING: The study population comprised pre-school children (n = 135) from one randomly chosen public school in the northeast of Brazil. SUBJECTS: Participants were 5-year-old students from a public school. RESULTS: Mean Hb and Ht values increased after iron supplementation, with p < 0.0001. There was no statistically significant increase in the placebo group. After intervention, anemia prevalence reduced only in the intervention group, from 48.0% to 26.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly iron supplementation was effective in reducing anemia in 5-year-olds.