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[Iron status and weaning practices among healthy 1-year old infants]
Insights
Immigrant children had higher rates of iron deficiency. Early infant formula and prolonged cow's milk consumption were noted in immigrant infants, impacting iron status.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Iron deficiency is a significant global health concern in infants and young children.
- Weaning practices and dietary patterns play a crucial role in determining infant iron status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the iron status of healthy one-year-old Norwegian and immigrant children.
- To examine the association between weaning practices and iron status in these distinct populations.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing iron status indicators (serum ferritin, hemoglobin) in Norwegian and immigrant children.
- Data collection on infant feeding practices, including formula, cow's milk, cereals, and other foods.
Main Results:
- No Norwegian children exhibited depleted iron stores or iron deficiency anemia.
- Immigrant children showed higher prevalences of low serum ferritin (14%) and iron deficiency anemia (11%).
- Immigrant infants were introduced to infant formula earlier and consumed cow's milk longer than Norwegian infants.
Conclusions:
- Weaning practices, specifically earlier infant formula and prolonged cow's milk intake, may contribute to the increased risk of iron deficiency in immigrant children.
- Targeted nutritional guidance for immigrant populations is essential to prevent iron deficiency anemia.
Abstract:
Iron status and weaning practices were studied in healthy one-year-old Norwegian and immigrant children (from developing countries) attending Fjell Health centre, Drammen. None of the Norwegian children (n = 33) had empty iron stores (serum ferritin < 10 micrograms/l) or iron deficiency anaemia (serum ferritin < 15 micrograms/l and haemoglobin < 11 g/100 ml). Among the immigrant children (n = 37) the prevalences were 14 and 11% respectively. The immigrant children were given infant formula earlier than the Norwegian and drank cow's milk for a longer period of the first year. There were no differences between the groups as regards introduction of infant cereals or other types of foods (vegetables, meat, fish).