title: [Effectiveness of different iron supplementation strategies on hemoglobin and ferritin levels among schoolchildren in Teresina, Piauí State, Brazil].
abstract: This study evaluated the effectiveness of supplementation with ferrous sulfate and iron bis-glycinate chelate on hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels among schoolchildren (7-11 years) of both sexes. A randomized community-based trial including 138 anemic children (hemoglobin < 11.5 g/dL) was conducted in Teresina, Piauí State, Brazil. Children were assigned to two treatment groups on an individual basis. One group (n = 71) received 40 mg iron as ferrous sulfate once weekly and the other group (n = 67) received 3.8 mg of iron bis-glycinate chelate-enriched cookies, 3x/week, for 8 weeks. The interventions showed a significant increase (p < 0.01) in hemoglobin levels (1.1g/dL) for children who received ferrous sulfate and 0.9 g/dl in those who received iron bis-glycinate chelate, although not significant in the inter-group comparison (p > 0.05). No effect was observed on body iron for either intervention (p > 0.05). Children with depleted iron stores (< 15 ng/mL) at the beginning of interventions showed increased serum ferritin concentrations after 8 weeks (p < 0.01), although no difference between treatments (p > 0.05) was observed. The results confirm the effectiveness of the iron supplementation interventions and corroborate the use of iron salts or ferrous bisglycinate chelate on a weekly basis to overcome iron deficiency and anemia.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Brasil. marizesantos@ufpi.br
authors.forename: Marize Melo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Nadir do Nascimento
authors.initials: Ndo N
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: Alcides da Silva
authors.initials: Ada S
authors.lastname: Diniz
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015415:Biomarkers; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005998:Glycine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018684:Glycine Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013334:Students
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D018684:Glycine Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; C073588:bis-glycino iron II; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D005293:Ferritins; D005998:Glycine