Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management
Published on: January 19, 2024
Chilean complementary feeding program reduces anemia and improves iron status in children aged 11 to 18 months
Alex Brito1, Manuel Olivares1, Tito Pizarro2
1Micronutrients Laboratory, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Insights
The National Complementary Feeding Program (NCFP) in Chile significantly reduced anemia in young children through iron-fortified milk. Increased consumption of this fortified milk can further improve child iron status and combat deficiency.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Nutrition
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Iron deficiency is a global health issue, particularly impacting vulnerable populations like infants and young children.
- Anemia, often caused by iron deficiency, poses significant health risks in early childhood development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of Chile's National Complementary Feeding Program (NCFP) in mitigating anemia and improving iron status.
- The study focused on children aged 11 to 18 months within the Chilean context.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study design was employed, comparing data before and after the introduction of iron-fortified milk.
- Two distinct study phases included an initial health center-based analysis and a later representative national sample survey.
Main Results:
- Anemia prevalence decreased from 27% to 9% one year after iron-fortified milk introduction.
- Ten years post-fortification, anemia rates remained significantly lower in children consuming NCFP-provided iron-fortified milk compared to non-consumers.
- Consumption of iron-fortified milk showed a positive association with hemoglobin levels and a reduced likelihood of anemia.
Conclusions:
- The NCFP in Chile has demonstrably reduced anemia and improved iron status among young children.
- Enhancing the consumption of iron-fortified milk presents an opportunity to amplify the program's public health impact.
Background:
Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in the world, primarily affecting infants, young children, and women of childbearing age.
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of the National Complementary Feeding Program (NCFP) on anemia and iron status in Chilean children aged 11 to 18 months.
Methods:
Two studies were performed. The first study was performed at one public outpatient health center in Santiago, using data collected in 1999 (n = 128) and 2000 (n = 125), before and after the national introduction of iron-fortified milk. Subsequently, a study of a representative sample (n = 320) from the two most populated areas of the country was performed in 2009.
Results:
One year after fortification, the prevalence of anemia was 9%; significantly lower (p < .001) than the 27% prevalence observed 1 year before. Ten years after fortification, 14% of children were anemic and 77% of children with anemia (12% of all children) suffered from iron-deficiency anemia. In 2009, 11% of children consuming iron-fortified milk delivered by the NCFP (73%) were anemic, significantly lower (p = .028) than the 21% prevalence of anemia observed in children without consumption. Consumption of iron-fortified milk was positively associated with hemoglobin concentration (r = 0.28, p = .022) and was associated with a lower prevalence of anemia after adjusting for confounding factors (odds ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.96).
Conclusions:
In Chile, the NCFP has had an impact on the reduction of anemia and improved the iron status of children aged 11 to 18 months. Increasing the consumption of this iron-fortified milk could enhance the impact of the NCFP.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children