Effect of iron supplementation on development of iron deficiency anemia in breastfed infants.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the effect of iron supplementation on preventing iron deficiency anemia in infants who were exclusively breastfed in their first 4 months of life.
Results Summary
Iron supplementation significantly increased ferritin levels but did not affect hemoglobin levels compared to the control group. Dietary iron intake showed a positive correlation with hemoglobin levels, suggesting nutrition may play a more critical role than supplementation in preventing iron deficiency anemia.
Population
6-month-old infants who were exclusively breastfed for the first 4 months of life.
Effective Dosage
1 mg/kg/day ferrous sulfate
Duration
6 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iron supplementation | neutral | development of iron deficiency anemia | 6-month-old infants who had been exclusively breastfed in the first 4 months of life | - | effect on | #1 |
1 mg kg(-1) day(-1) ferrous sulfate | neutral | 6 months starting at 6 months of age | infants in the supplemented group | - | given for | #2 |
iron supplementation | no change | mean hemoglobin values | infants in the supplemented and control groups | - | similar | #3 |
iron supplementation | increase | mean ferritin level | supplemented group compared to control | - | significantly higher | #4 |
dietary iron intake | increase | hemoglobin levels | infants | - | significant positive correlation | #5 |
nutrition | neutral | iron deficiency anemia | during infancy | - | more important than iron supplementation in preventing | #6 |
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 1 mg kg(-1 )day(-1) 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. Nutrition might be more important than iron supplementation in preventing iron deficiency anemia during infancy.