A study of the iron requirement in infants, using changes in total body iron determined by hemoglobin, serum ferritin and bodyweight.
The amount of iron absorption in healthy breast-fed infants was estimated in order to assess the iron requirement. This was carried out by monitoring changes in total body iron (TBI). Hemoglobin and serum ferritin were measured to calculate hemoglobin iron, body storage iron and TBI at the ages of 4-5 months and 10-11 months. The amount of iron absorption was approximately 0.4 mg/day, calculated as the sum of TBI increment and physiological iron loss. From this study, the dietary iron requirement for the weaning period was estimated as 4 mg/day.
Hokama
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Department of Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
D001835:Body Weight; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements
D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron