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Iron status in exclusively breast-fed infants
E B Calvo1, A C Galindo, N B Aspres
1Centro de Estudios Sobre Nutrición Infantil, Hospital Materno-Infantil, Ramón Sardá, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Pediatrics
|September 1, 1992
Summary
Exclusively breast-fed infants show higher rates of anemia and low iron stores by nine months. Supplemental iron is recommended from four months for breast-fed infants to ensure adequate iron nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Human Nutrition
- Infant Health
Background:
- Exclusive and prolonged breastfeeding is common.
- Infant iron status is critical for development.
- Early iron deficiency can have long-term consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess iron nutritional status in exclusively breast-fed infants.
- To correlate iron status with growth and diet.
- To compare iron status between breast-fed and formula-fed infants.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 40 infants (0-9 months).
- Dietary intake assessed (breast milk, formula, complementary foods).
- Iron status evaluated via anemia prevalence and storage iron levels.
Main Results:
- Anemia prevalence was 27.8% in breast-fed vs 7.1% in formula-fed infants at 9 months.
- 27.8% of breast-fed infants had absent storage iron compared to none in the formula-fed group.
- Iron and ascorbic acid-rich foods were introduced from 6 months.
Conclusions:
- Exclusive breastfeeding without supplementation increases risk of iron deficiency anemia.
- Current recommendations for iron supplementation in breast-fed infants should be reinforced.
- Supplemental iron from 4 months is advised for exclusively breast-fed infants.