Complementary food with low (8%) or high (12%) meat content as source of dietary iron: a double-blinded randomized...

To investigate whether a low meat content of complementary food as accepted by EU law increases the risk of well-nourished infants to develop iron deficiency during the complementary feeding period.

Term born, healthy infants were randomized into a 'High Meat' Group (HM, n = 48) receiving commercial baby jars with a meat content of 12% by weight (according to pediatric guidelines), and a 'Low Meat' Group (LM, n = 49) receiving meals as marketed (meat 8% by weight, the lowest level of EU law). Intervention was from 4 to 10 months of age. Dietary intake was recorded continuously, repeated blood samples were collected.

Estimated intake of bioavailable iron conformed to reference requirements. In the primary analysis of the total sample, iron status was adequate before (4 months), during (7 months), and after (10 months) the intervention. A secondary analysis in the subgroup of infants fully breast-fed for 4-6 months demonstrated an increased risk of low Hb values with 10 months of age in the LM group.

Present day low meat content of complementary food does not significantly impair iron status in well-nourished infants but may increase the risk of developing marginal iron status in older infants after fully breast-feeding for 4-6 months, i.e., in the subgroup of infants with the lowest habitual iron intake.