We observed an association between intake of Fe-fortified foods  and Hb concentration in children aged < 10 years .
Fe-fortified foods could be an effective strategy for reducing Fe-deficiency anaemia in children
OBJECTIVE To combine evidence from r and omized controlled trials to assess the effect of Fe-fortified foods on mean Hb concentration in children ( < 10 years ) .
Anemia and intestinal parasite infection in school children in rural Vietnam.
OBJECTIVES This study hypothesized that besides iron deficiency , intestinal parasites infection is also a determinant of anemia in schoolchildren in rural Vietnam . METHODS 400 primary schoolchildren from 20 primary schools in Tam Nong district , a poor rural area in Vietnam , were r and omly selected from enrollment lists .  Venous blood ( 5ml ) was collected in a cross sectional study and analyzed for hemoglobin ( Hb ) , serum ferritin ( SF ) , serum transferrin receptor ( TfR ) , serum C-reactive protein ( CRP ) and total immunoglobulin E ( IgE ) .  Stools sample s were examined for hookworm , Trichuris , and Ascaris infection . Logistic regression was used to assess the effect of intestinal parasites on anemia . RESULTS The prevalence of anemia ( Hb < 115g/l ) was 25 % . Iron deficiency ( TfR > 8.5mg/L ) occurred in 2 % of the children . The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 92 % with the highest prevalence for Trichuris ( 76 % ) and Ascaris ( 71 % ) . More than 30 % and 80 % of the children showed an elevated CRP ( > or = 8 mg/L ) and IgE ( > 90 IU/ml ) concentration . Anemia status was borderline significantly associated with SF and not associated with TfR and CRP . The prevalence odds ratio for Trichuris infection was 1.96 ( 95 % CI 1.07 - 3.59 ) and 2.00 ( 95 % CI 1.08 - 3.65 ) with iron deficiency reflected by TfR and SF , respectively . CONCLUSION Anemia is highly prevalent among schoolchildren in Vietnam but may not be associated with iron deficiency . Trichuris infection is associated with a doubled risk of anemia , not mediated through iron deficiency . Chronic infection may play a role in anemia , but needs further investigation
We observed an association between intake of Fe-fortified foods  and Hb concentration in children aged < 10 years .
Fe-fortified foods could be an effective strategy for reducing Fe-deficiency anaemia in children
OBJECTIVE To combine evidence from r and omized controlled trials to assess the effect of Fe-fortified foods on mean Hb concentration in children ( < 10 years ) .