title: Comparison of response between food supplemented with powdered iron and iron in syrup form for iron deficiency anemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the response between food supplemented with iron in powdered and iron in syrup forms for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children aged 1-5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi-experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at Combined Military Hospital, Multan, from January 2000 to December 2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive 200 cases of iron deficiency anemia, aged 1-5 years, were included in the study. Diagnosis was based on history, physical examination, complete blood counts (CBC) and serum ferritin levels. The patients were randomized to receive either iron in syrup form (Group A) or equivalent doses of iron powder sprinkled over food (Group B). The patients were followed up with hemoglobin estimation (Hb) and reticulocyte response at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks. CBC and serum ferritin were repeated at 6 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over half (51%) of the patients were between 1-2 years of age. One hundred thirty-two were males and 68 females. Most of the patients belonged to poor socioeconomic class. The iron in powder form was better tolerated than iron syrup as this group witnessed fewer episodes of gastrointestinal disturbances. The rise in mean Hb level after 6 weeks of treatment in group A and B was 1.6 g/dl and 1.9 g/dl respectively. Hemoglobin rise in group B was more than group A but this was statistically non-significant (p > 0.05). There was small but significant (p < 0.05) rise in serum ferritin in both the groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups for response to the two forms of iron administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The powdered form of iron is a cost-effective and better tolerated method of iron administration in children and can be considered as an alternate option for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, Rawalpindi. parvez101@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Parvez
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Asad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Waqar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Azim
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011208:Powders
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011208:Powders; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D005293:Ferritins