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Efficacy of Biweekly Iron Supplementation on Iron Status in Under-Five Children: A Prospective Cohort Study
Krishna Nesara1, Dhandapany Gunasekaran2, Sharbari Basu3
1Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 605 006, India.
Insights
Biweekly iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation effectively improved iron status in iron-sufficient children aged 1-5 years. This intervention demonstrated significant increases in hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels over six months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Hematology
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Iron deficiency anemia is a significant global health concern in young children.
- Maintaining adequate iron status is crucial for cognitive and physical development.
- Prophylactic supplementation strategies are being explored to prevent iron insufficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of biweekly iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation.
- To evaluate its impact on maintaining iron status in iron-sufficient children under five years old.
- To examine changes in hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels post-intervention.
Main Methods:
- Healthy children aged 1-5 years with normal iron status were enrolled.
- Participants received 1 mL of IFA syrup (20 mg iron, 100 µg folic acid) biweekly for six months.
- Hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels were measured before and after the supplementation period.
Main Results:
- 173 out of 200 eligible children completed the study.
- A statistically significant increase in mean hemoglobin levels was observed (P < 0.001).
- Mean serum ferritin levels also significantly increased post-supplementation (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Biweekly IFA supplementation is effective in improving iron status.
- This regimen enhances both hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels in iron-sufficient children.
- The National Iron Plus Initiative shows promise for pediatric iron status maintenance.
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic biweekly Iron and Folic acid (IFA) supplementation (National Iron Plus Initiative) in maintaining iron status in under-five children with iron sufficiency.
Methods:
Consecutive healthy children screened for normal iron status (normal hemoglobin and serum ferritin) were started on iron prophylaxis as one mL syrup containing 20 mg elemental iron and 100 µg folic acid biweekly for six months. The pre- and post-supplementation hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels were compared.
Results:
Out of 573 children screened, none were receiving IFA prophylaxis routinely. A total of 173 out of 200 eligible children completed the intervention with a significant increase in the mean (SD) hemoglobin [11.7 (0.5)-11.9 (0.5) g/dL] and serum ferritin [54.5 (23.5)- 63.6 (21.1) µg/L] at six months (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Biweekly iron and folic acid supplementation improved iron status in children aged 1 to 5 years with iron sufficiency.
