It was evaluated the impact of the use of açaí and camu-camu in pre scholars of a Philanthropic Unit of Manaus-AM. Eight-five volunteers with age two to six-years old of both sexes were selected, randomly distributed in five groups, having açaí and açaí + camu-camu as sources of iron (2 mg) and vitamin C (40 mg), as well as iron aminoacid chelate with concentrations of 1 and 2 mg of iron. The iron was distributed daily in the lunch by a period of 120 days. In the characterization of the anemia, the cutting point of hemoglobin was <11g/dL. The results demonstrated that of a total of 85 children, 6 (7%) presented a chronic malnutrition state, being at the end of the study reduced to 4 (4%). The most impact of the use of the açaí was as energy source, resulting in a significant weight gain (1.76 kg) by the children, even when camu-camu was added (1.69 kg). Regarding hemoglobin concentration no significant difference was observed among the children of the groups gave received different sources of iron: açaí (0.71 g/dL); açaí + camu-camu (0.60 g/dL), iron 2 mg (0.88 g/dL); water (0.85 g/dL) and iron 1 mg (0.54 g/dL). However, the recovery of the anemic children was better in the group gave received iron aminoacid chelate in the concentration of 2 mg of iron. It was concluded that açaí has a great potential as energy source and little importance as an iron source, even with the addition of camu-camu.
Açaí; camu-camu; iron; preschool children; anemia