2009/04/27 by Lani S. Stephenson · 1 citation
Medicine · Nursing · #Iron Metabolism and Disorders #Child Nutrition and Water Access #Biochemical effects in animals
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.1995.tb01495.x
openalex publication_date 2009/04/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
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.