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Factors affecting iron stores in infants 4-18 months of age
S G Wharf1, T E Fox, S J Fairweather-Tait
1Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich, NR4 7UA, Norfolk, UK.
Insights
Infant iron levels are influenced by birth weight and body weight at 4 months. By 8 months, diet (baby food, cow
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Human Physiology
- Iron Metabolism
Background:
- Infant iron status is critical for healthy development.
- Understanding factors influencing iron stores is essential for early intervention.
- Previous research has not comprehensively assessed these factors across early infancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of dietary, physiological, and environmental factors on body iron levels in infants.
- To analyze these influences across different infant age groups (4-18 months).
Main Methods:
- Study conducted in Norwich, UK, involving 181 healthy infants aged 4, 8, 12, and 18 months.
- Dietary iron intake assessed via validated diet history interviews.
- Blood samples analyzed for hemoglobin, hematocrit, and plasma ferritin; statistical analysis using multiple linear regression.
Main Results:
- At 4 months, birth weight and body weight were primary determinants of iron stores.
- At 8 months, cow's milk intake, household smoking, and commercial baby food consumption were significant.
- A gender effect favoring girls was observed at 8 and 12 months; non-haem iron intake was significant at 18 months.
Conclusions:
- Infant iron stores are influenced by a combination of factors that change with age.
- Birth and body weight are key at 4 months, while diet and environmental factors become more prominent by 8 months.
- Gender and specific iron intake types play roles in later infancy.
Objectives:
To determine the effects of dietary, physiological or environmental factors on body iron levels in infants aged 4-18 months.
Design:
The daily iron intake of the infants was measured from a diet history obtained by interview using a standardised question sheet, previously validated against weighed intake (minimum 3 days) in an independent sample of 8 and 18 month old infants. Capillary blood samples were analyzed for haemoglobin, mean cell volume, haematocrit, zinc protoporphyrin and plasma ferritin concentration. Ferritin values were log-transformed prior to analysis to give a better approximation to the normal distribution and forward stepwise multiple linear regression was carried out using SPSS.
Setting:
The city of Norwich, UK and some of its suburbs.
Subjects:
One hundred and eighty-one healthy infants in age groups 4, 8, 12 and 18 months.
Results:
Main determinants of iron stores in the 4 month old infants were birth weight (+ve (P < 0.001)) and body weight (-ve (P < 0.005)). In the 8 month old infants intake of cow's milk (-ve (P < 0.05)), belonging to a smoking household (-ve (P < 0.05)) and quantity of commercial babyfood consumed (+ve (P < 0.05)) were significant. In this age group there was a gender effect (girls > boys (P < 0.01)) and the gender effect remained at 12 months (girls > boys (P < 0.05)), but at 18 months only non-haem iron intake was a significant factor (-ve (P < 0.05)).
Conclusions:
At 4 months of age birth weight and body weight exert the greatest influence on iron stores, whereas by 8 months components of the weaning diet have an effect (commercial babyfood (+ve), cow's milk (-ve)); there is also a gender effect (girls > boys), possibly reflecting the different growth rate between boys and girls. At 12 and 18 months the only significant factors are gender (girls > boys) and non-haem iron intake (-ve) respectively.