The objective of this study was to identify the nutritional risk factors by blood analysis, in 1,083 preschool children of age 3 to 6 years. The frequency of anemic children was 7.3% with Hb<11.1 g/dL, 29.9% with ferritin<20 ng/mL, and 16.7% with transferrin Fe saturation(%)<15%. The prevalence of anemia in these children were 12.8% for those with MCV<79 fL, and it was 71% for those with TIBC>400 μg/dL. Serum ferritin concentration was 20 ng/mL in the normal children. Thirty two percent of the children had anemia with Hb<12 g/dL, which is below the normal range of Hb. Exactly 15.4% of the children had serum Fe concentration of 60 μg/dL. The transferrin Fe saturation of the children (16.3%) was >15%. The serum ferritin concentration showed low correlations with Hb, Fe, transferrin Fe saturation, and MCV. The transferrin Fe saturation, higher Hb concentration, MCV, and Hct values were increased significantly. Consequently, iron-deficiency anaemia was thus defined as having Hb concentration <12 g/dL accompanied by ferritin concentration <20 ng/mL or Hct <33%.

Iron is an essential trace element for normal functions of the body. Restriction of iron availability directly limits erythropoiesis. The objective of this experiment was to compare the bioavailability of iron nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) with iron-microparticles (Fe-MPs) in anemic mice. There were four experimental groups, including the normal control group, iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) group, Fe-NPs group, and Fe-MPs group. Animals in the normal group fed on an adequate iron-containing diet (45 ppm Fe). Meanwhile, animals in the other three groups fed on a low Fe diet (4.5 ppm Fe) for seven weeks. Double deionized water was supplied as drinking water ad libitum. After feeding for three weeks with the low Fe diet, animals in the Fe-NPs and Fe-MPs groups received oral administration of Fe-NPs or Fe-MPs at a daily dose of 40 mg/kg for four weeks. The IDA group showed markedly decreased red blood cell (RBC) count, hematocrit (Hct), and hemoglobin (Hb) values compared with the normal group throughout the experimental periods. Treatments with Fe-NPs or Fe-MPs for four weeks resulted in restoration of the decreased RBC count and hematological values similar to normal values. The Fe-NPs group showed faster restoration in values than Fe-MPs with passage of time. The iron contents of the upper small intestine in the Fe-NPs and Fe-MPs groups were higher than in the normal group at weeks 2 and 4. Treatment with Fe-NPs and Fe-MPs resulted in a significant increase in hepatic iron contents and lipid peroxidation, compared with the IDA group with passage of time. The iron contents in liver and ferritin deposits in spleen were identified in the Fe-NPs and Fe-MPs groups, similar to the normal group. These results indicate that oral administration of both Fe-NPs and Fe-MPs can result in recovery from anemia and Fe-NPs is more absorbable and available in the body than Fe-MPs.