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Iron status and infants feeding practice in children with anaemia
C Y Jamal1, G M Uddin, K J Naorozy
1Department of Child Health, Hematology/Oncology Unit, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Insights
Exclusive breastfeeding may lead to mild anemia, but exclusive iron deficiency anemia is linked to mixed feeding or prolonged breastfeeding without proper weaning in children under two.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
- Hematology
Background:
- Anemia is a significant public health concern in children under two.
- Feeding practices play a crucial role in infant nutrition and iron status.
- Understanding the relationship between infant feeding and anemia is vital for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate feeding patterns in anemic children under two years of age.
- To determine the association between feeding practices and iron status in this population.
- To identify risk factors for anemia related to infant nutrition.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 140 clinically suspected anemic children.
- Hemoglobin levels were measured using a hemoglobinometer.
- Serum ferritin levels were assessed via microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA).
- Dietary questionnaires focused on feeding type, breastfeeding duration, and introduction of weaning.
Main Results:
- 79.3% of anemic children (n=111) had hemoglobin levels between 6.4-7.2 gm/dL and serum ferritin ≤12 ng/mL.
- Female children were predominantly affected, and all study participants were malnourished.
- Exclusive breastfeeding was associated with mild anemia and no iron deficiency.
- Mixed feeding, prolonged breastfeeding without weaning, or no breastfeeding resulted in moderate to severe anemia with iron deficiency.
Conclusions:
- Feeding practices significantly impact iron status and anemia prevalence in children under two.
- Exclusive breastfeeding appears protective against iron deficiency anemia.
- Delayed or absent weaning, alongside mixed or formula feeding, increases the risk of moderate to severe anemia and iron deficiency.
Abstract:
A cross sectional study was carried out in the then IPGM&R now (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh) to detect the pattern of feeding practice among the anemic children who were below 2 years of age and to find out a relationship between feeding practice and iron status. Hemoglobin was measured on finger prick blood samples using Haemoglobinometer. A peripheral blood film, and serum-ferritin was estimated by micro particle enzyme-immonoassay (MEIA). A dietary questionnaire was completed with particular emphasis on the type of feeding, breast and formula and at which age the weaning was introduced. 140 clinically suspected anemic patients were selected randomly for this study. Among them 111 (79.3%) patient had hemoglobin value ranging between 7.2-6.4 gm and their serum-ferritin level at or below 12 ngm/ml. It was observed that female children were predominantly affected and incidentally all patients were malnourished. In this study it was found that babies with an exclusive diet of breast milk were mildly anemic and not deficient in iron. On the contrary infants with mixed feeding habits or prolonged breast-feeding without weaning at all or babies devoid of any breast milk had moderate to severe anaemia and all were deficient in iron.
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