Smartest Doc
Effect of Iron Supplementation on Development of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Breastfed Infants
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, 07/05/2012
Gokcay G et al. – Nutrition might be more important than iron supplementation in preventing iron deficiency anemia during infancy.
- This trial aimed to investigate the effect of iron supplementation on the development of iron deficiency anemia.
- The study encompassed 6-month-old infants who had been exclusively breastfed in the first 4 months of life.
- Infants in the supplemented group were given 1mg kg1day1 ferrous sulfate for 6 months starting at 6 months of age. Blood samples were taken at age 12 months.
- A 3-day-diet was evaluated at 1 year of age. Data of 51 infants in the supplemented and 54 infants in the control group were analyzed.
- Mean hemoglobin values were similar in the two groups at the age of 12 months.
- Mean ferritin level of the supplemented group was significantly higher than that of the control.
- There was a significant positive correlation between dietary iron intake and hemoglobin levels.
