Preventive strategy to control iron deficiency anemia in children and adults.
OBJECTIVE
To compare improvement in hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and ferritin levels in children aged 5-10 years and women of reproductive age (15-45) supplemented with daily oral and once weekly with single and double dose of ferrous sulphate.


METHODS
Twenty children received 200 mg ferrous sulfate daily and 20 received the same dose once weekly for two months. Ten women received 300 mg ferrous sulfate daily, 10 received the same dose once weekly while 10 received 600 mg of ferrous sulfate once weekly for one month.


RESULTS
All parameters improved significantly in children who received 200 mg ferrous sulfate daily and weekly. Similarly, the parameters improved significantly in women who received 300 mg of ferrous sulfate daily and 600 mg of ferrous sulfate weekly.


CONCLUSIONS
Weekly supplementation of iron is far better in controlling iron deficiency anemia due to cost effectiveness and better compliance.
Siddiqui
I A
IA
Department of Biochemistry, Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi.
Jaleel
A
A
Rahman
M A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; C020748:ferrous sulfate