OBJECTIVE: Several foods have been used as iron (Fe) carriers to fight widespread global Fe deficiency and anemia. This paper describes the longitudinal effect of Fe-fortified drinking water given to a group of Brazilian preschool children. DESIGN: The experimental design included 31 preschool children who attended a day-care institution. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin were the blood parameters used to check the Fe status. Fe++ sulfate (20 mg Fe/L) was added daily to their drinking water container and measurements were obtained before the addition, 4 and 8 months later. RESULTS: The number of Fe-deficient children decreased drastically after they started drinking the Fe-enriched water. Mean hemoglobin values increased from 10.6 to 13.7 g/dL and serum ferritin from 13.7 to 25.6 micrograms/L. There were no problems related to the salt addition or to the children drinking the Fe-enriched water. CONCLUSION: Fe-enriched drinking water was shown to be a practical alternative to supply Fe to children attending a day-care institution.
OBJECTIVE: Several foods have been used as iron (Fe) carriers to fight widespread global Fedeficiency and anemia. This paper describes the longitudinal effect of Fe-fortified drinking water given to a group of Brazilian preschool children. DESIGN: The experimental design included 31 preschool children who attended a day-care institution. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin were the blood parameters used to check the Fe status. Fe++ sulfate (20 mg Fe/L) was added daily to their drinking water container and measurements were obtained before the addition, 4 and 8 months later. RESULTS: The number of Fe-deficient children decreased drastically after they started drinking the Fe-enriched water. Mean hemoglobin values increased from 10.6 to 13.7 g/dL and serum ferritin from 13.7 to 25.6 micrograms/L. There were no problems related to the salt addition or to the children drinking the Fe-enriched water. CONCLUSION:Fe-enriched drinking water was shown to be a practical alternative to supply Fe to children attending a day-care institution.
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Americas; Behavior; Biology; Brazil; Child Care; Child Health; Child Rearing; Demographic Factors; Developing Countries; Environment; Examinations And Diagnoses; Health; Hematologic Tests; Hemic System; Laboratory Examinations And Diagnoses; Laboratory Procedures; Latin America; Natural Resources; Physiology; Population; Population Characteristics; Research Report; Serum Iron Level; South America; Urban Population; Water Supply