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Effect of Iron-Fortified Drinking Water of Daycare Facilities on the Hemoglobin Status of Young Children

Faculty of Health Sciences (M.A.B.)
Department of Physiological Sciences (C.T.)
University of Brasilia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Minas Gerais (J.A.L.), BRAZIL

Address reprint requests to: Mark A. Beinner, Ph.D., Rua da Consolacao, 5, Consolacao, Diamantina/MG, 39.100-000, BRAZIL. E-mail: mbeinner{at}yahoo.com

Background: Anemia is the most prevalent nutrition problem in young children. One possible strategy to prevent anemia is affordable fortification of drinking water.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of iron-fortified drinking water of daycare facilities on the hemoglobin and anthropometric status of pre-school children.

Design: Hemoglobin (Hb) status, weight and height measurements were assessed in 160 pre-school children aged 6 to 59 m before and after 8 m consumption of iron- (12 mg/L) and vitamin C- (90 mg/L) fortified drinking water.

Results: Initially, 43.2% (69) of the children evaluated as being anemic decreased to 21% (37) at the end of study. At baseline, 42 (26.3%) children suffered from moderate anemia and 27 (16.9%) suffered severe anemia, but after iron fortification, total number of children suffering from moderate and severe anemia had decreased to 32 (20.7%) and 5 (3%), respectively. Weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) and weight-for-height (WHZ) Z-scores increased significantly from –0.84 ± 1.03 to 0.06 ± 1.10, –0.84 ± 1.11 to 0.54 ± 1.10 and –0.39 ± 0.94 to –0.18 ± 1.14, respectively (p < 0.05). Daycare personnel reported increased appetite and food consumption and decreased absenteeism during intervention.

Conclusion: Daily consumption of iron-fortified drinking water in daycare facilities is an effective, simple and inexpensive means of reducing and controlling for moderate and severe anemia in pre-school children.

Key words: anemia, anthropometry, daycare, children, foods, iron-fortification

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