Cyclical iron supplementation to reduce anemia among Brazilian preschoolers: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of nutritional disorder. New strategies for the treatment of anemia are very important for its reduction. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and feasibility of cyclical iron supplementation as a strategy to reduce the prevalence of anemia among preschoolers.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was performed in the entire population of under five-year-old children who attended government daycare centers in a small town in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The children were randomly allocated into two intervention groups: the Weekly and Cyclical Groups. During a ten-month period, the Weekly Group (n = 51) received weekly doses of 30 mg elemental iron (40 doses) and the Cyclical Group (n = 48) received two

SUBMITTER: Coutinho GG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3649887 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature