Análise do uso da nanotecnologia como estratégia de prevenção e tratamento de anemia por deficiência de ferro em crianças.

Abstract

Anemia is a public health problem, with serious and lasting consequences. The main cause of anemia is iron deficiency and the treatment consists of supplementation of this metal - the traditional form of supplementation is by means of ferrous salts, which despite having proven efficacy, have generally low adherence. One of the alternatives is food fortification, with the aim of achieving a sustainable and cost-effective approach. Nanotechnology has emerged as a science with the potential to revolutionize any field in which it is applied - the use of nanostructures for the delivery of iron or iron salts offers benefits that are absent in conventional remedies for iron deficiency.This study aims to analyze the impact of supplementation by means of microencapsulated iron nanoparticles on hemoglobin levels in children aged 2 to 6 years in the state of Paraíba. The clinical trial was carried out in 2017, in which the chocolate flavored dairy compound containing microencapsulated ferrous fumarate nanoparticles, at a dose of 1.86mg of iron per 100ml, in addition to omega-3 and other 25 vitamins and minerals, was offered daily at school, except weekends and holidays, totaling 17 doses. Hemoglobin analysis was performed at the beginning of the study and after supplementation. Hemoglobin at the initial moment showed an average of 12.29 and, after the intervention, an average of 12.33, with no statistically significant difference between the values. In the population sample of anemic students, on the other hand, the average at the beginning was 10.93 and, after the intervention, 12.02, with a statistically significant difference between the obtained data. Supplementation was effective in increasing serum hemoglobin levels in anemic students, without causing significant changes in hemoglobin levels in children without anemia, demonstrating its safety. It is concluded that the use of nanotechnology was effective as a strategy for the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term implementation of this strategy.