Studies on the treatment and prevention of iron deficiency anemia, in pregnant and nonpregnant women and in men, were conducted in Thailand and Burma. The effects of the dose of Fe, duration of Fe administration, additional supplementation with folate, mode of supplement delivery (either supervised or unsupervised), and the presence of Hb(AE) were studied. The frequency and severity of side effects were also recorded. Fe administration resulted in an increase in hemoglobin concentration in all anemic individuals but approximately 20% failed to reach normality. The length of administration and the dose influenced the results. Frequency and severity of side effects increased with the dose of Fe administered. Folate supplementation did not affect the results. It appears possible to integrate a program of prevention and treatment of Fe deficiency anemia in a primary health-care system but the constraints and limitations of achievable results should be recognized.

The plasma zinc and copper and urinary zinc levels were determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer technic in 14 patients with hemoglobin (Hb) H disease, 34 patients with β-thalassemia/Hb E disease and 30 control subjects. Plasma zinc levels were lower and the plasma copper levels were higher in the patients than in controls. The plasma Cu:Zn ratios, a more valuable indicator of body zinc status, increased in the diseased subjects, indicating zinc deficiency. Higher urinary zinc levels in the both Hb H disease and β-thalassemia/Hb E disease suggest that chronic hemolysis is responsible for hyperzin-curia leading to zinc deficiency. The thalassemic patients with undergrowth had higher plasma Cu:Zn ratios than the patients with normal development, indicating a more severe zinc deficiency in the former.

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