title: Surveillance for anaemia: risk factors in patterns of milk intake.
abstract: The association between patterns of milk intake and anaemia was studied during a surveillance programme for iron deficiency anaemia. Children aged 8-24 months were examined when they attended a routine immunisation clinic. Haemoglobin was measured on finger prick blood samples using a portable haemoglobinometer, and a dietary questionnaire was completed, with special emphasis on the type and volume of milk intake and the age at which whole cows' milk was introduced. Anaemia (defined as a haemoglobin concentration of less than 110 g/l) was diagnosed in 33 children (22%) and was more common among children who were not white. Continued feeding with breast milk and the early introduction of whole cows' milk were associated with a significantly higher prevalence of anaemia. No child taking formula milk was anaemic. Asian children drank significantly more milk a day than other groups, but there was no correlation between daily milk intake and haemoglobin concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Paediatrics, Waltham Forest Health Authority.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D004032:Diet; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014886:Weaning