Use of iron-fortified rice reduces anemia in infants.
Food fortification is advocated to tackle iron deficiency in anemic populations. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of iron-fortified rice (Ultrarice(®)) weekly on hemoglobin and anemia levels compared with standard rice (control). This cluster-randomized study deals with infants (10-23 months) from two public child day care centers in Brazil, n = 216, in an 18 week intervention. The intervention group received individual portions of fortified rice (50 g) provided 56.4 mg elemental/Fe. For intervention center: baseline mean hemoglobin was 11.44 ± 1.07 g/dl, and after intervention 11.67 ± 0.96 g/dl, p < 0.029; for control: baseline mean hemoglobin value was 11.35 ± 4.01 g/dl, and after intervention 11.36 ± 2.10 g/dl, p = 0.986. Anemia prevalence for intervention center was 31.25% at baseline, and 18.75% at end of study, p = 0.045; for control 43.50% were anemic at baseline, and 37.1% at the end of study, p = 0.22. Number Needed to Treat was 7. Iron-fortified rice was effective in increasing hemoglobin levels and reducing anemia in infants.
Federal University of Ceara, Sobral Unit, Brazil. placidoarcanjo@yahoo.com.br
Francisco Plácido
FP
Nogueira Arcanjo
Paulo Roberto
PR
Santos
Caio Plácido Costa
CP
Arcanjo
Olga Maria Silverio
OM
Amancio
Josefina Aparecida Pellegrini
JA
Braga
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012275:Oryza; D015995:Prevalence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary