Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes
08:45

Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes

Published on: May 10, 2022

2.5K

Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia in 3-5 months-old, Breastfed Healthy Infants

Sudarsan Krishnaswamy1, Dharmagat Bhattarai1, Bhavneet Bharti2

  • 1Hematology-Oncology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Center, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|March 22, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are prevalent in exclusively breastfed infants by 4-5 months. This study suggests considering iron supplementation earlier than the standard 6 months.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Science
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) pose significant health risks in infants.
  • Early detection and intervention are crucial for infant development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of ID and IDA in predominantly breastfed, term infants aged 3-5 months.
  • To evaluate the need for early iron supplementation.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted on 215 infants (90-180 days old) meeting specific inclusion criteria.
  • Iron deficiency was defined as serum ferritin <12 μg/L, and IDA as ID with Hb ≤10.5 g/dL.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of ID increased from 5.4% at 3 months to 36.4% at 5 months.
  • IDA prevalence was 4.6% at 3 months, peaking at 16.7% at 4 months, then decreasing to 11.4% at 5 months.
  • Significant ID prevalence at 4 and 5 months (21.4% and 36.4%) was observed.

Conclusions:

  • High prevalence of ID in predominantly breastfed, term infants by 4-5 months.
  • Evidence supports considering iron supplementation from 4 months of age, earlier than the current recommendation of 6 months.
Abstract

Keywords:
AnemiaBreastfeedingInfantsIron deficiencySupplementation

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management05:35

Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management

Published on: January 19, 2024

1.6K
Measurement of Tissue Non-Heme Iron Content using a Bathophenanthroline-Based Colorimetric Assay05:08

Measurement of Tissue Non-Heme Iron Content using a Bathophenanthroline-Based Colorimetric Assay

Published on: January 31, 2022

5.7K

Related Concept Videos

Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
1.1K
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

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...
555
Vitamins01:30

Vitamins

Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced...
2.7K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

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...
503
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
88.8K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

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...
303