title: Weekly iron supplementation for the prevention of anemia in pre-school children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study analyses the impact of weekly iron supplementation with ferrous sulphate heptahydrate (FeSO4) in 5-year-olds compared with placebo, on hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht) values and anemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study concerns a cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Intervention participants received 50 mg elemental iron for 14 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised pre-school children (n = 135) from one randomly chosen public school in the northeast of Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 5-year-old students from a public school.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean Hb and Ht values increased after iron supplementation, with p < 0.0001. There was no statistically significant increase in the placebo group. After intervention, anemia prevalence reduced only in the intervention group, from 48.0% to 26.0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weekly iron supplementation was effective in reducing anemia in 5-year-olds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of Ceara, Sobral Unit, Sobral, CE, Brazil. placidoarcanjo@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Francisco Plácido Nogueira
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Arcanjo
authors.forename: Cecília Costa
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Arcanjo
authors.forename: Olga Maria Silverio
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Amancio
authors.forename: Josefina Aparecida Pellegrini
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: Alvaro Jorge Madeiro
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Leite
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006397:Hematinics; D006454:Hemoglobins; C020748:ferrous sulfate