Effect of Low Levels of Iron and Trace Elements on Hematological Values of Parasitized Schoolchildren

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Abstract
A study was made of the effect of low levels of iron (15 mg elemental Fe/day), trace-element supplementation (2 mg elemental Cu, 4 mg elemental Zn, 0.5 mg elemental Co/day), and anthelmintic treatment on the anemia of 144 Amazon Basin primary schoolchildren. In 24% of the chidren initial hemoglobin levels were below 10 g/l00 ml. Ninety-one percent of the children exhibited hookworms, 73% eliminated Ascaris lumbricoides, and 30% eliminated Trichocephalus trichiurus. Low levels of iron were effective (P < 0.05) in raising hemoglobin and hematocrit values in those children whose initial hemoglobin values were below 10 g/l00 ml, but not in those whose values were above that level. Trace-element supplementation combined with iron was no more effective than iron alone. Anthelmintic treatment combined with iron resulted in slightly higher values than iron alone. This study demonstrated that carefully controlled daily oral ferrous sulfate administration was effective in overcoming frank anemia in heavily parasitized schoolchildren, even at levels as low as 15 mg elemental iron per day. In public health programs this amount of iron could be supplied in pill form as was done in this study or by iron enrichment of staple foods.

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