title: Treatment and prevention of anemia with ferrous sulfate plus folic acid in children attending daycare centers in Goiânia, Goiás State, Brazil: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of anemia and the therapeutic and prophylactic response to ferrous sulfate and folic acid. A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted with 196 children 6 to 24 months of age enrolled in municipal daycare centers in Goiânia, Goiás State, Brazil. The children were assigned to two treatment groups that received a daily dose (5 times a week) of either 4.2mg/kg/day of ferrous sulfate + folic acid (50microg) or 4.2mg/kg/day of ferrous sulfate + folic acid placebo. One of the prevention groups received 1.4mg/kg/day of ferrous sulfate + folic acid (50microg/day) and the other 1.4mg/kg/day of ferrous sulfate + folic acid placebo. Supplementation lasted approximately three months. Baseline anemia prevalence was 56.1% (95%CI: 48.9-63.1). After treatment, anemia prevalence in the folic acid group (14%) was lower than in the placebo group (34.9%) (p = 0.02). After prophylaxis in the non-anemic children, the incidence of anemia did not differ between the groups, but there was an increase in hemoglobin level in the folic acid group (p = 0.003). Iron plus folic acid was effective for the treatment of anemia and improvement of hemoglobin level in non-anemic children.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brasil. clarethadler@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Maria Claret Costa Monteiro
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hadler
authors.forename: Dirce Maria
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sigulem
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima Costa
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Vinícius Montenegro
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006397:Hematinics; D006454:Hemoglobins; D010919:Placebos; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12