title: Double-blind randomized controlled trial of rolls fortified with microencapsulated iron.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of the fortification of rolls with microencapsulated iron sulfate with sodium alginate on the hemoglobin levels in preschoolers as compared to controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind randomized controlled trial comprised of children aged 2 to 6 years with initial hemoglobin exceeding 9 g/dL from four not-for-profit daycares randomly selected in the city of São Paulo - Brazil. Children of 2 daycares (n = 88) received rolls with fortified wheat flour as the exposed group (EC) and children of 2 daycares (n = 85) received rolls without fortification as the control group (CG) over a 24-week period. Rolls with 4 mg iron each were offered once a day, five days a week. Hemoglobin concentrations were determined in capillary blood by HemoCue® at three moments of trial: baseline (Ml), after 12 and 24 weeks of intervention (M2, M3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hemoglobin concentration presented significant increase up to M3 in EG (11.7-12.5-12.6 g/dL) and in CG (11.1-12.4-12.3 g/dL) with higher elevations in children initially with anemia. There was significant reduction in the occurrence of anemia from 22% to 9% in EG and from 47% to 8.2% in CG at M3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rolls fortified with microencapsulated iron sulfate were well tolerated, increased hemoglobin levels and reduced the occurrence of anemia, but with no difference compared to the control group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Universidade de Santo Amaro, São Paulo, Brazil. teresanb@globo.com
authors.forename: Teresa Negreira Navarro
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: José Augusto de Aguiar Carrazedo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Taddei
authors.forename: Domingos
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ancona-Lopez
authors.forename: Josefina Aparecida Pellegrini
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Braga
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001938:Brazil; D001939:Bread; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006441:Hemoglobin A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009752:Nutritional Status
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D006441:Hemoglobin A