Early iron therapy cuts childhood anaemia by nearly 80 per cent, finds NIN study

A study by Hyderabad-based ICMR-NIN found that early screening and timely iron-folic acid supplementation reduced childhood anaemia by nearly 80 per cent among young children. Researchers also found that probiotic supplementation provided no additional benefit in improving anaemia-related outcomes.

Hyderabad: A study by researchers from the Hyderabad-based National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) has demonstrated that early screening of young children for anaemia, followed by timely treatment with iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation, can reduce childhood anaemia by nearly 80 per cent.

The study findings, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, also indicated that probiotic supplementation to improve gut health did not provide any additional benefits.

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The 90-day randomised controlled trial, which evaluated the effectiveness of standard iron-folic acid supplementation with or without the addition of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum, included 25 children below five years of age residing in urban slums of Hyderabad.

Researchers from NIN observed a significant improvement in haemoglobin concentrations, with an average increase of approximately 2 g/dL following treatment. The prevalence of anaemia declined by nearly 77 per cent, while iron deficiency reduced by 98 per cent, and iron deficiency anaemia was completely eliminated (100 per cent) among children who completed the intervention.

Dr Teena Dasi and Dr Ravindranadh Palika, scientists and lead investigators of the study, said, “Our findings demonstrate that providing timely iron-folic acid treatment can substantially reduce the burden of anaemia, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in young children when compliance with the intervention is high.”

Dr Bharati Kulkarni, Director, ICMR-NIN, said: “This study provides strong scientific evidence supporting India’s ‘Screen and Treat’ approach for childhood anaemia under the Anaemia Mukt Bharat programme. The findings reaffirm that early screening and timely iron-folic acid treatment, implemented according to national guidelines, can substantially reduce the burden of childhood anaemia when high compliance is achieved.”