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Association between total duration of breastfeeding and iron deficiency

Jonathon L Maguire1, Leila Salehi, Catherine S Birken

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto ON M5B 1W8 Canada. jonathon.maguire@utoronto.ca

Pediatrics
|April 17, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Longer breastfeeding duration is linked to lower iron stores in children. Each extra month of breastfeeding increased the risk of iron deficiency, highlighting a need for further research into infant iron health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Hematology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Iron deficiency remains a significant global health concern in young children.
  • Breastfeeding is widely recommended, but its long-term impact on infant iron status requires ongoing evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between the duration of breastfeeding and iron stores, iron deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia in healthy urban children.
  • To quantify the risk of iron deficiency with increasing duration of breastfeeding.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 1647 healthy children aged 1 to 6 years.
  • Utilized univariate and adjusted regression analyses to assess the relationship between total breastfeeding duration and iron biomarkers.
  • Collected survey, anthropometric, and laboratory data.

Main Results:

  • Increased breastfeeding duration correlated with lower serum ferritin levels (P = .0015).
  • Each additional month of breastfeeding was associated with a 4.8% increased odds of iron deficiency.
  • Children breastfed for over 12 months had a significantly higher odds of iron deficiency (OR = 1.71).

Conclusions:

  • Prolonged breastfeeding duration is associated with diminished iron stores in children.
  • The findings suggest a clinically relevant link between extended breastfeeding and reduced iron status, necessitating further investigation and potential interventions.
Abstract

Keywords:
breastfeeding durationcross-sectional studiesiron deficiencyserum ferritin

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