title: Preventive intervention for iron deficiency anaemia in a high risk population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a common nutritional problem.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of nutritional education and supplemental iron administration on the prevalence of IDA in Arab infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and ten infants were randomized alternately into two groups. Mothers (n = 143) in the control group received standard information on prevention of IDA and mothers in the intervention group (n = 144) received extensive information on the importance of an iron-rich diet. Data was scored regarding diet contents. Mothers in the intervention group were encouraged to give their children an iron polymaltose complex (IPC) preparation starting from age 4 months to 1 year. Compliance of receiving the medication was evaluated. The groups were compared for outcome by chi-square test. Main outcome measures were haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and serum ferritin levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anaemia (Hb <11 g/dL) was recorded in 28% and 34% of the intervention and control groups, respectively (p = NS). There was no effect of infant or parental background factors on rate of anaemia. Frequency of anaemia was lower in infants who received ≥ 6 months of iron medication according to mothers' reports, and in infants breastfed for ≥ 6 months (p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Questions were raised regarding the strategies of preventing IDA in infancy.
authors.affiliation: Neurology and Child Development Clinic, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva, Israel The Bridge to Peace Community Pediatric Center, Taibe, Israel Clalit Health Services, Sharon-Shomron District, Israel Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Lutfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jaber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018912:Arabs / Q000208:ethnology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D009035:Mothers; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D011134:Polysaccharides; C539743:iron polyisomaltosate
keywords: Iron deficiency of infancy; ferrous gluconate; ferrous sulfate; iron absorption; polymaltose complex