Preventive intervention for iron deficiency anaemia in a high risk population.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a common nutritional problem. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of nutritional education and supplemental iron administration on the prevalence of IDA in Arab infants. METHODS: Three hundred and ten infants were randomized alternately into two groups. Mothers (n = 143) in the control group received standard information on prevention of IDA and mothers in the intervention group (n = 144) received extensive information on the importance of an iron-rich diet. Data was scored regarding diet contents. Mothers in the intervention group were encouraged to give their children an iron polymaltose complex (IPC) preparation starting from age 4 months to 1 year. Compliance of receiving the medication was evaluated. The groups were compared for outcome by chi-square test. Main outcome measures were haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and serum ferritin levels. RESULTS: Anaemia (Hb <11 g/dL) was recorded in 28% and 34% of the intervention and control groups, respectively (p = NS). There was no effect of infant or parental background factors on rate of anaemia. Frequency of anaemia was lower in infants who received ≥ 6 months of iron medication according to mothers' reports, and in infants breastfed for ≥ 6 months (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Questions were raised regarding the strategies of preventing IDA in infancy.