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


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Fe-enriched drinking water was shown to be a practical alternative to supply Fe to children attending a day-care institution.
Dutra-de-Oliveira
J E
JE
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
Ferreira
J B
JB
Vasconcellos
V P
VP
Marchini
J S
JS
D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004326:Drinking; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D014867:Water
D006454:Hemoglobins; D014867:Water; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron