Table 3. Prevalence of anemia and biochemical indicators by study groups at the end of the ENFAC Studya.
| CG, n = 521 | IG, n = 462 | P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (months), mean (SD) | 13.5 (1.0) | 12.7 (1.1) | < 0.001 |
| Hemoglobin (g/L), mean (SD) | 116.6 (13.5) | 120.4 (10.6) | < 0.001 |
| Anemia (Hemoglobin <110 g/L), n (%) | 120 (23.1) | 66 (14.3) | < 0.001 |
| Anemia, adjusted PR (95% CI)b | 1 | 0.63 (0.45, 0.88) | 0.004 |
| IDc, n (%) | 188 (37.4) | 128 (30.1) | 0.020 |
| IDc, adjusted PR (95% CI)b | 1 | 0.81 (0.64, 1.04) | 0.103 |
| IDAd, n (%) | 52 (10.3) | 21 (4.9) | 0.002 |
| IDAd, adjusted PR (95% CI)b | 1 | 0.45 (0.26, 0.77) | 0.004 |
| Plasma ferritin (μg/L), median (IQR) | 19.9 (12.7; 33.5) | 21.4 (13.0, 34.3) | 0.688 |
| sTfR (mg/L), median (IQR) | 3.26 (1.23, 8.31) | 2.87 (1.03, 5.21) | < 0.001 |
| Vitamin A deficiency (<0.70μmol/L), n (%) | 86 (17.4) | 33 (7.9) | < 0.001 |
| Vitamin A deficiency, adjusted PR (95% CI)b | 1 | 0.45 (0.29, 0.69) | < 0.001 |
| Vitamin E insufficiency (<11.6 μmol/L), n(%) | 302 (61.5) | 103 (24.9) | < 0.001 |
| Vitamin E insufficiency, adjusted PR (95% CI)b | 1 | 0.38 (0.30, 0.49) | < 0.001 |
| Serum beta-carotene (μmol/L), median (IQR) | 0.28 (0.14, 0.50) | 0.36 (0.21, 0.60) | < 0.001 |
| Folate, median (IQR) | 39.66 (28.78, 55.29) | 48.27 (34.44, 55.29) | < 0.001 |
| AGP >1g/L, n (%) | 183 (31.7) | 116 (24.6) | 0.001 |
| AGP > 1 g/L, adjusted PR (95% CI)b | 1 | 0.73 (0.55, 0.97) | 0.030 |
| CRP >5 mg/L, n (%) | 79 (16.9) | 33 (8.9) | < 0.001 |
| CRP > 5 mg/L, adjusted PR (95% CI)b | 1 | 0.512 (0.33, 0.80) | 0.003 |
aTotals differ from the total number of study children due to missing values. AGP, α-1-acid glycoprotein; CG, control group; CRP, C-reactive protein; ENFAC, Estudo Nacional de Fortificação caseira da Alimentação Complementar; ID, iron deficiency; IDA, iron deficiency anemia; IG, intervention group; PR, prevalence ratio; sTfR, soluble transferrin receptor.
bP values were determined by testing the null hypothesis that each variable is equal between groups by using mixed-effects Poisson regression models, adjusted for health center, city, maternal education and child age (days).
cDefined with plasma ferritin < 12 ug/L or sTfR > 8.3 mg/L.
dDefined as Hb < 110 g/L with plasma ferritin < 12 ug/L or sTfR > 8.3 mg/L.