Repleting hemoglobin in iron deficiency anemia in young children through liquid milk fortification with bioavailable iron amino acid chelate.

OBJECTIVE To determine if repletion of hemoglobin was achievable in young children presenting both severe (< or =9.4 g hemoglobin/dL blood) and less severe iron deficiency anemia (9.5 to 11.0 g hemoglobin/dL blood) through fortification of liquid 3.3% butterfat milk with a bioavailable ferrous iron amino acid chelate (Ferrochel) at 3 mg iron/liter/day. METHODS A group of 185 children were selected from Tupã, Brazil who presented the above two stages of iron deficiency anemia plus normalcy. Initially, 54% had severe iron deficiency anemia, 33% were less severely anemic and 13% had normal hemoglobin concentrations. They received iron-fortified milk for a mean of 222+/-2 days. Hemoglobin concentrations were measured initially, at 133+/-13 days, and at 222+/-2 days. RESULTS By mean 222 days, 57% of the childrens' hemoglobins were normal. Highest rates of repletion were in the initially severe anemic group. Repeated measures ANOVAs demonstrated that hemoglobins at 0, 133 and 222 days for the total group, as well as for the severe and less severe iron deficiency anemic groups, represented statistically different populations at alpha=0.0005. Children with initially normal hemoglobin concentrations showed no change at 0, 133 and 222 days (alpha=0.10), suggesting the possibility of absorptive regulation of this form of iron. CONCLUSIONS Low hemoglobin concentrations in young children can be increased through daily consumption of fluid milk fortified with 3 mg ferrous amino acid chelate (Ferrochel).