Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
04:52
Author Spotlight: Marmoset Research - Scope and Challenges
Published on: June 9, 2023
3.0K
Meeting iron needs for infants and children
Staffan Berglund1, Magnus Domellöf
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
|February 19, 2014
Summary
Meeting infant iron needs is crucial for neurological development. While delayed cord clamping benefits infants, iron supplements before six months are only beneficial for premature babies, and further research is needed for high-risk groups.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Neurological Development
- Iron Metabolism
Background:
- Early-life iron deficiency can negatively impact neurological development.
- Optimal iron intake strategies for infants and children are critical.
- This review synthesizes current research on infant and child iron requirements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the latest research on meeting iron requirements in infants and children.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of different iron supplementation and food enrichment strategies.
- To identify optimal preventive measures for iron deficiency in vulnerable populations.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent scientific literature.
- Analysis of studies on delayed cord clamping, iron supplementation, and fortified foods.
- Evaluation of iron deficiency prevalence, neurological outcomes, and infection risks.
Main Results:
- Delayed cord clamping is safe and improves infant iron stores.
- Iron supplements or fortified foods before 6 months are not effective for low-risk infants but benefit low birth weight infants.
- Iron supplementation in high-risk populations and anemic school-aged children shows benefits for anemia and potentially neurodevelopment, but infection risk is a concern.
Conclusions:
- Prioritize iron deficiency prevention in at-risk groups.
- Further large-scale, double-blinded trials are necessary due to uncertain long-term benefits and potential adverse effects like increased infections.
- Optimal preventive strategies require further determination, especially in developing countries.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
1.0K
Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
1.0K
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
967
Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
967
01:24Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism
410
In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
410
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
408
In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
408
01:29Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns
2.5K
Microorganisms exhibit diverse oxygen requirements and growth patterns driven by their metabolic strategies and environmental adaptations. Oxygen, while essential for many organisms, can also be toxic under certain conditions, shaping how microorganisms grow and survive.Oxygen Requirements of MicroorganismsMicroorganisms are classified based on their ability to use or tolerate oxygen:● Obligate aerobes like Mycobacterium tuberculosis need oxygen for energy production, as it serves as the...
2.5K
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
1.4K
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
1.4K