Iron Supplementation to Reduce Preschoolers Anemia: Comparison Between Intermittent and Cyclic Procedure

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of iron supplements given at intervals corresponding to the mean life of red blood cells compared to weekly supplementation, in reducing the prevalence of preschool anemia. Method: Ninety-nine children from public day care centers with ages from 24 to 59 months old were randomly divided into two groups. All the children received 40 doses of 30 mg of ferrous sulfate during a 10-month intervention period. Group 1 received once weekly supplementation and Group 2 received supplementation in two 5-month cycles, each cycle consisting of one month of supplementation (20 workdays) and four months without supplementation.

Detailed Description
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The prevalence of anemia after the supplementation regimens reduced from 20.20% to 5.05% (P < 0.0005); the reduction was not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.35). The mean hemoglobin concentration increased in both groups (Group 1: 0.27 g/dL; P < 0.016 and Group 2: 0.47 g/dL; P < 0.0005) without significant differences between the groups (P = 0.17).

Official Title
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Iron Supplementation to Reduce Preschoolers Anemia: Comparison Between Intermittent and Cyclic Procedure

Conditions
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Anemia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: iron supplementation
* Biological: iron supplementation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: The participants of the study were children with ages ranging from 24 to 59 months old that attended four local public day care centers Exclusion Criteria: Presence of infection or reported infections within two weeks prior to the intervention Anemia lower than 7.0 g/dL and children taking medications containing ferrous sulfate

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 24 Months
Maximum Age: 59 Months

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Group 1:iron weekly supplementation<br> | Drug: iron supplementation<br>* 40 doses of 30 mg of ferrous sulfate during a 10-month intervention period<br>|
| Active Comparator: Group 2: cycle supplementation<br>two 5-month cycles, each cycle consisting of one month of supplementation (20 workdays) and four months without supplementation. | Biological: iron supplementation<br>* supplementation in two 5-month cycles, each cycle consisting of one month of supplementation (20 workdays) and four months without supplementation.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Initial and final blood hemoglobin concentration |  | 10 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Iron, anemia, supplementation, preschoolers, prevalence, preschoolers children from public day care centers