High Iron Levels Are Associated with Increased Malaria Risk in Infants during the First Year of Life in Benin.

ABSTRACT: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 40% of children in low-income countries are anemic. Therefore, iron supplements are recommended by WHO in areas with high anemia rates. However, some studies have set into question the benefits of iron supplementation in malaria-endemic regions. In Benin, a west African country with high prevalence of anemia and malaria, no iron supplements are given systematically to infants so far despite the WHO recommendations. In this context, we wanted to investigate the effect of iron levels during the first year of life on malarial risk in Benin considering complementary risk factors. We followed 400 women and their offspring between January 2010 and June 2012 in Allada (Benin). Environmental, obstetric, and numerous clinical, maternal, and infant

SUBMITTER: Moya-Alvarez V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5544062 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature