Preventive intervention for iron deficiency anaemia in a high risk population

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a common nutritional problem.

To determine the effect of nutritional education and supplemental iron administration on the prevalence of IDA in Arab infants.

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.

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).

Questions were raised regarding the strategies of preventing IDA in infancy.