Drinking water as an iron carrier to control anemia in preschool children in a day-care center.

Abstract

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. 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. 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. Fe-enriched drinking water was shown to be a practical alternative to supply Fe to children attending a day-care institution. Iron deficiency affects more than one billion people worldwide, although it is most common among young children and women of childbearing age. Poor iron status has severe nutritional and health consequences. The authors describe the longitudinal effect of iron-fortified drinking water given to a group of Brazilian preschool children as a way of combatting iron deficiency and anemia. The statuses of 31 preschool children attending a day-care institution for low socioeconomic families in Ribeirao Preto were followed from November 1990 to October 1991. Iron sulfate was added daily to subjects' drinking water container. Measurements of hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels in the children were taken before the addition and four and eight months later to evaluate iron status. Mean hemoglobin values increased from 10.6 to 13.7 g/dL and serum ferritin from 13.7 to 25.6 ug/L with no problems reported related to the salt addition or to the children drinking the iron-enriched water. The number of iron-deficient children decreased drastically after they began drinking the iron-enriched water. It may therefore be concluded that iron-enriched drinking water is a practical alternative to supply iron to children attending a day-care institution.