Iron-fortified biscuits in the prevention and treatment of anemia in preschool children

Iron deficiency anemia is a serious public health challenge in Brazil, especially among children. This study aims to evaluate the effects of an iron-fortified biscuit for the prevention and treatment of anemia in preschool children. This is a randomized controlled clinical trial that was conducted at an Early Childhood Education Center. The sample was allocated through a cluster randomization method. The classrooms were randomized into two groups: intervention, where the children ingested 2 biscuits fortified with 20 mg of elemental iron in each, twice a week for 16 weeks; and control group, in which the children ingested the same biscuits without iron fortification. The hemoglobin levels of both groups were measured before and after the intervention. After the intervention there was a significant increase in hemoglobin in the fortified biscuit group with an average increase in hemoglobin from 9.88 to 11.49 g/dL, an increase of 1.63 g/dL, with p < 0.0001, associated with a significant decrease in the prevalence of anemia from 80.9% to 11.8%, from 55 anemic children to only 8 children.