Possible new developments in community control of iron-deficiency anemia

• Published in: Nutrition reviews Vol. 53; no. 2; pp. 23 - 30
• Main Author: Stephenson, L.S. (Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.1995; International Life Sciences Institute; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Age; ANEMIA; Anemias. Hemoglobinopathies; ANEMIE; Appetite; Biological and medical sciences; CARENCE EN OLIGOELEMENT; Children & youth; CHINA; CHINE; COMPLEMENT ALIMENTAIRE; DEFICIENCIA DE OLIGOELEMENTOS; Developing countries; Dietary supplements; Diseases of red blood cells; ENFANT; FEMME; FER; GAIN DE POIDS; GANANCIA DE PESO; GESTACION; GESTATION; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hemoglobin; HIERRO; Human subjects; Iron; JEUNESSE; JUVENTUD; LDCs; Malnutrition; Medical sciences; MUJERES; NINOS; OMS; PAISES EN DESARROLLO; PAYS EN DEVELOPPEMENT; POBLACION HUMANA; POPULATION HUMAINE; Pregnancy; Preschool children; Proteins; Public health; SUPLEMENTOS; White people; Womens health; Asia; Africa; America; Human; Prevention; Sanitary program; Iron deficiency anemia; Treatment efficiency; Oral administration; Hemopathy; Iron; Review; Sideropenia; Nutritional deficiency; Public health
• ISSN: 0029-6643; 1753-4887
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.1995.tb01495.x

Two findings that may revolutionize the implementation of oral iron supplementation programs worldwide have recently come to light The first is that weekly administration of oral iron to anemic Chinese preschool children improved iron status as much as daily dosing, producing only negligible side effects. The relevance of this finding is being examined in studies of pregnant women, adolescent girls, and preschoolers in eight countries in the WHO (World Health Organization)--UNU (United Nations University)--UNICEF study of weekly iron supplements. Hopefully, this phenomenon will vastly increase the coverage, feasibility, and effectiveness of supplementation programs, particularly in the developing world. The second finding, that daily oral iron given to iron-sufficient Indonesian toddlers appeared to decrease weight gain compared with a placebo group, had not been apparent in three other small studies. If verified, screening for anemia could be required for all young children in predominantly anemic populations before iron supplements are given. However, it may not be an issue if weekly dosing is adopted