title: Daily and Weekly Iron Supplementations are Effective in Increasing Hemoglobin and Reducing Anemia in Infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of daily and weekly iron supplementation compared with control on hemoglobin values and anemia prevalence in infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cluster-randomized study, we evaluated infants aged 12-24 months (n = 210) from three public daycare centers, during 4 months. Intervention-group A was allocated 25 mg elemental iron once weekly; intervention-group B received 12.5 mg elemental iron once daily; control-group C received 0.5 ml of a natural color additive. Hemoglobin was assessed before and after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline mean hemoglobin was 8.81 ± 0.89 g/dl (group A), 9.70 ± 1.56 g/dl (group B) and 10.96 ± 0.92 g/dl (group C); after intervention, mean hemoglobin was 10.03 ± 0.78 g/dl (p < 0.0001), 10.65 ± 0.97 g/dl (p < 0.0001) and 11.30 ± 0.80 g/dl (p = 0.0034) for groups A, B and C, respectively. Anemia prevalence was as follows: group A, 100% at baseline and 83.3% at end of study, p = 0.0001; group, B 75.0% and 41.7%, p = 0.0002; group C, 50.0% and 37.5%, p = 0.182.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weekly and daily iron supplementation were effective in increasing hemoglobin levels and reducing anemia in infants.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Ceara, Sobral Unit, 62042-280 Sobral, Ceara, Brazil. franciscoplacidoarcanjo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Francisco Plácido
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Nogueira Arcanjo
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Caio Plácido
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Costa Arcanjo
authors.forename: Silvia Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Meira Magalhães
authors.forename: Alvaro Jorge
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Madeiro Leite
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary