Iron Supplementation to Reduce Preschoolers Anemia: Comparison Between Intermittent and Cyclic Procedure
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- iron supplementation
- Conditions
- Anemia
- Sponsor
- Sao Jose do Rio Preto Medical School
- Enrollment
- 99
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Initial and final blood hemoglobin concentration
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 16 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of iron supplements given at intervals corresponding to the mean life of red blood cells compared to weekly supplementation, in reducing the prevalence of preschool anemia.
Method: Ninety-nine children from public day care centers with ages from 24 to 59 months old were randomly divided into two groups. All the children received 40 doses of 30 mg of ferrous sulfate during a 10-month intervention period. Group 1 received once weekly supplementation and Group 2 received supplementation in two 5-month cycles, each cycle consisting of one month of supplementation (20 workdays) and four months without supplementation.
Detailed Description
The prevalence of anemia after the supplementation regimens reduced from 20.20% to 5.05% (P \< 0.0005); the reduction was not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.35). The mean hemoglobin concentration increased in both groups (Group 1: 0.27 g/dL; P \< 0.016 and Group 2: 0.47 g/dL; P \< 0.0005) without significant differences between the groups (P = 0.17).
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •The participants of the study were children with ages ranging from 24 to 59 months old that attended four local public day care centers
Exclusion Criteria
- •Presence of infection or reported infections within two weeks prior to the intervention
- •Anemia lower than 7.0 g/dL and children taking medications containing ferrous sulfate
Arms & Interventions
Group 1:iron weekly supplementation
Intervention: iron supplementation
Group 2: cycle supplementation
two 5-month cycles, each cycle consisting of one month of supplementation (20 workdays) and four months without supplementation.
Intervention: iron supplementation
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Initial and final blood hemoglobin concentration
Time Frame: 10 months