Drinking water as an iron carrier to control anemia in preschool children in a day-care center

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Nutrition Vol. 13; no. 2; p. 198
• Main Authors: Dutra-de-Oliveira, J E, Ferreira, J B, Vasconcellos, V P, Marchini, J S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-04-1994
• Subjects: Anemia, Hypochromic - prevention & control; Brazil; Child; Child Day Care Centers; Child, Preschool; Drinking; Ferritins - blood; Hemoglobins - metabolism; Humans; Iron - administration & dosage; Iron - deficiency; Water; Brazil; South America; Americas; Hemic System; Biology; Hematologic Tests; Laboratory Procedures; Urban Population; Natural Resources; Latin America; Population Characteristics; Brazil; Population; Research Report; Physiology; Behavior; Child Health; Serum Iron Level; Child Care; Demographic Factors; Laboratory Examinations And Diagnoses; Health; Examinations And Diagnoses; Environment; Developing Countries; Water Supply; Child Rearing
• DOI: 10.1080/07315724.1994.10718395
• ISSN: 0731-5724

Several foods have been used as iron (Fe) carriers to fight widespread global Fe deficiency and anemia. This paper describes the longitudinal effect of Fe-fortified drinking water given to a group of Brazilian preschool children.
The experimental design included 31 preschool children who attended a day-care institution. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin were the blood parameters used to check the Fe status. Fe++ sulfate (20 mg Fe/L) was added daily to their drinking water container and measurements were obtained before the addition, 4 and 8 months later.
The number of Fe-deficient children decreased drastically after they started drinking the Fe-enriched water. Mean hemoglobin values increased from 10.6 to 13.7 g/dL and serum ferritin from 13.7 to 25.6 micrograms/L. There were no problems related to the salt addition or to the children drinking the Fe-enriched water.
Fe-enriched drinking water was shown to be a practical alternative to supply Fe to children attending a day-care institution.