Assessment of drinking water fortification with iron plus ascorbic Acid or ascorbic Acid alone in daycare centers as a strategy to control iron-deficiency anemia and iron deficiency: a randomized blind clinical study.
OBJECTIVE
Assess drinking water fortification with iron and/or ascorbic acid as a strategy to control iron-deficiency anemia and iron deficiency.


METHODS
Randomized blind clinical study, fortifying drinking water to 153 pre-school children during 3 months, with iron and ascorbic acid (A), ascorbic acid (B) or plain water (C). Hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and ferritin were measured.


RESULTS
Within the groups, Hb raised in all three groups, MCV in A and B and ferritin in A. The difference between time points 0 and 1 was significant between A and B for Hb, when A and B were compared with C for MCV and when A was compared with either B or C for ferritin.


CONCLUSIONS
Water fortification is efficient in controlling iron deficiency and anemia. Iron stores' recovery depends on a more effective offer of iron. Water fortification must be preceded by a careful assessment of the previous nutritional status.
['de Almeida|Carlos A N|CA|', 'De Mello|Elza D|ED|', 'Ramos|Adriana P R|AP|', 'João|Camila A|CA|', 'João|Carolina R|CR|', 'Dutra-de-Oliveira|José E|JE|']
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency D001205:Ascorbic Acid D001938:Brazil D002656:Child Day Care Centers D002675:Child, Preschool D004311:Double-Blind Method D060766:Drinking Water D005260:Female D005527:Food, Fortified D006454:Hemoglobins D006801:Humans D007501:Iron D000090463:Iron Deficiencies D008297:Male D015596:Nutrition Assessment D009752:Nutritional Status D015995:Prevalence D016896:Treatment Outcome D014815:Vitamins
anemia iron deficiency health education nutrition assessment