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[Nutritional iron status of infants fed according to current recommendations]
Insights
This study shows that iron deficiency anemia is less common in infants today. Updated infant nutrition guidelines contribute to better iron intake and stores in healthy term infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Hematology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
Context:
- Iron deficiency anemia remains a significant global health concern in infants.
- Longitudinal studies are crucial for understanding infant nutritional status over time.
- Austrian infant feeding recommendations have evolved, necessitating updated nutritional assessments.
Purpose:
- To longitudinally assess the iron nutritional status of healthy term infants from 15 to 365 days of age.
- To evaluate the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia and depleted iron stores based on current feeding practices.
- To compare iron status between breastfed and formula-fed infants.
Summary:
- Serum hemoglobin (Hb) and serum ferritin (SF) levels were monitored, alongside erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV).
- At 365 days, only 4.7% of infants had Hb below 11 g/dl and 9.3% had SF below 10 µg/l.
- No significant differences in iron status were observed between infants breastfed for longer or shorter durations, or those fed formula.
Impact:
- Findings suggest a lower prevalence of iron deficiency anemia and depleted iron stores compared to previous studies.
- Recent changes in infant nutrition practices appear to have improved iron intake and reduced deficiency.
- This research provides valuable data for refining infant feeding guidelines and public health strategies.
Abstract:
We examined the iron nutritional status of healthy term infants in a longitudinal study from 15 through 365 days of age. All infants were fed according to the present austrian recommendations. Serum hemoglobin (Hb) decreased from 15 through 122 days of age and remained constant thereafter. At 365 days of age, only 4.7% of the infants had hemoglobin levels below 11 g/dl, which is considered the borderline value for anemia. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of erythrocytes was changing during infancy. Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) was constant from 122 days through 365 days of age. The upper normal value of 3 micrograms/gHb for infants older than 122 days of age corresponded to that for children older than one year and adults. Serum ferritin (SF) decreased from 15 through 183 days of age and remained constant thereafter. At 365 days of age, only 9.3% of the infants had SF below 10 micrograms/l, which is considered the borderline concentration for depletion of iron stores. We found no differences of iron nutritional status between infants who were breastfed longer than 122 days and infants who were breastfed shorter than 122 days or were fed formula. Our findings indicate that the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia and depletion of the iron stores is lower than in previous studies. Changes in infant nutrition during the last years resulted in higher iron intake and lower prevalence of iron deficiency.