title: Prevention and Treatment of Anemia in Infants through Supplementation, Assessing the Effectiveness of Using Iron Once or Twice Weekly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to compare the effect of once weekly iron supplementation (IS) versus twice weekly, on hemoglobin (Hb) levels and anemia prevalence.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cluster-randomized clinical trial study, we evaluated infants aged 6-18 months. Length of intervention: 16 weeks. Infants were cluster randomized to either 25 mg elemental iron once weekly (Group-A) or twice weekly (Group-B). Primary outcome variables were change in Hb concentration and anemia prevalence. Two biochemical evaluations were performed to determine Hb concentrations, before and after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For Group-A, at baseline, mean Hb concentration was 10.8 ± 1.18 g/dl and after intervention 11.2 ± 1.07 g/dl,p = 0.12; anemia prevalence was 52.5% at baseline and 37.5% after intervention,p = 0.18; Group-B, mean baseline Hb was 10.7 ± 1.04 g/dl, and 11.3 ± 0.91 g/dl after intervention,p = 0.002; anemia prevalence reduced from 57.9 to 36.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both once and twice weekly IS increased mean Hb concentration; however, twice weekly supplementation provided more significant results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Postgraduate Studies, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará Postcode 62.042-280, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tárcio Aragão
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Department of Postgraduate Studies, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará Postcode 62.042-280, Brazil placidoarcanjo@yahoo.com.br franciscoplacidoarcanjo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francisco Plácido Nogueira
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Arcanjo
authors.affiliation: Department of Postgraduate Studies, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará Postcode 62.042-280, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Postgraduate Studies, Federal University of Ceará, Ceará Postcode 62.042-280, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cecília Costa
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Arcanjo
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D005293:Ferritins
keywords: anemia; hemoglobins; infants.; iron