Effect of fortification of drinking water with iron plus ascorbic acid or with ascorbic acid alone on hemoglobin values and anthropometric indicators in preschool children in day-care centers in Southeast Brazil
de Almeida, C.Alberto.Nogueira.; Dutra-De-Oliveira, Jé.Eduardo.; Crott, G.Claudio.; Cantolini, A.; Ricco, R.Garcia.; Del Ciampo, L.Antonio.; Baptista, M.Elisa.Costa.
Food and Nutrition Bulletin 26(3): 259-265
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0379-5721 PMID: 16222916 DOI: 10.1177/156482650502600302Document Number: 266282
Background: Iron deficiency anaemia currently is the most frequently occurring nutritional disorder worldwide. Previous Brazilian studies have demonstrated that drinking water fortified with iron and ascorbic acid is an adequate vehicle for improving the iron supply for children frequenting day care centres. Objective: The objective of this study was to clarify the role of ascorbic acid as a vehicle for improving iron intake in children in day care centres in Monte Alto, Brazil. Methods: A six-month (from 1 July 2002 to 31 December 2002) study was conducted on 150 children frequenting six day care centres divided into two groups of three day care centres by drawing lots: the iron-C group (three day care centres, n=74), which used water fortified with 10 mg elemental iron and 100 mg ascorbic acid per litre, and the comparison group (three day care centres, n=76), which used water containing only 100 mg ascorbic acid per litre. Anthropometric measurements and determinations of capillary haemoglobin were performed at the beginning of the study and after six months of intervention. The food offered at the day care centres was also analysed. Results: The food offered at the day care centre was found to be deficient in ascorbic acid, poor in haem iron, and adequate in non-haem iron. Supplementation with fortified drinking water resulted in a decrease in the prevalence of anaemia and an increase in mean haemoglobin levels associated with height gain in both groups. Conclusions: Fortification of drinking water with iron has previously demonstrated effectiveness in increasing iron supplies. This simple strategy was confirmed in the present study. The present study also demonstrated that for populations receiving an abundant supply of non-haem iron, it is possible to control anaemia in a simple, safe, and inexpensive manner by adding ascorbic acid to drinking water.