DSpace Collection:http://dspace.aiub.edu:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/2982026-04-01T14:19:42Z2026-04-01T14:19:42ZRole of Low Amount of Iron Intake from Groundwater for Prevention of Anemia in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural BangladeshRahman, SabuktaginLee, PatriciaBiswas, Nezam UddinKhan, Moududur RahmanAhmed, Farukhttp://dspace.aiub.edu:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/24192024-09-23T04:43:09Z2024-08-25T00:00:00ZTitle: Role of Low Amount of Iron Intake from Groundwater for Prevention of Anemia in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman, Sabuktagin; Lee, Patricia; Biswas, Nezam Uddin; Khan, Moududur Rahman; Ahmed, Faruk
Abstract: In Bangladesh, groundwater, the principal source of drinking water, contains predominantly
high levels of iron. Drinking groundwater is associated with good iron status in populations.
Against this backdrop, iron supplementation is often associated with side effects, which reduces
its intake compliance. However, the level of iron in groundwater is not consistent, and low levels
exist in many areas of the country. In the present study, we examined the role of groundwater
with a low concentration of iron in the prevention of anemia in Bangladeshi children. In 2018, a
cross-sectional study was conducted in Bangladesh among children aged 2–5 years (n = 122) who
drank groundwater containing a low level of iron (0–<2 mg/L). The combined intake of iron was
calculated from the key sources—diet, groundwater, and the simulated intake of MNPs. The intakes
of iron were compared against the standard reference intake. The children’s hemoglobin levels
were measured using a photometer. The combined intake of iron from diet, groundwater with
low levels of iron, and the simulated consumption of low-iron MNP in children was 5.8 ± 2.0
and 6.9 ± 2.5 mg/day, comprising 193% and 169% of the Estimated Average Requirements in the
2–3-year-old and 4–5-year-old subgroups, respectively. The combined intake of bioavailable iron from
dietary and low-iron groundwater was 0.42 ± 0.023 and 0.22 ± 0.019 mg/day in children exposed to
groundwater concentrations of 0.8–<2.0 mg/L and 0.0–<0.8 mg/L, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean
concentration of hemoglobin in the respective groups was 12.17 ± 0.94 g/dL and 11.91 ± 0.91 g/dL
(p = 0.30). The combined intake of iron from diet and the low-iron groundwater was associated
with maintenance of hemoglobin concentration at the non-anemic level in > 90% of the children.
The findings highlight the protective influence of the low concentration of iron in the drinking
groundwater against childhood anemia in Bangladesh.2024-08-25T00:00:00Z