Anemia and iron status in Inuit infants from northern Quebec.
The iron status and diet of Inuit infants living in northern Quebec who were part of a prospective cohort study was described. The prevalence of anemia (hemoglobin values > 2 SD below the reference mean) was 21.1% (23/109), 47.4% (55/116) and 37.7% (46/122) at 2, 6 and 12 months, respectively. The corresponding prevalence of microcytic anemia was 0.0%, 4.3% and 21.3%. At 2, 6 and 12 months, iron-deficiency anemia (serum ferritin < 10 micrograms/L coupled with anemia) was present in 1.3% (1/79), 24.4% (21/86) and 26.3% (25/95) of infants, respectively. Compared with breastfeeding, the odds ratio for iron deficiency (serum ferritin < 10 micrograms/L) for bottle-feeding with cows' milk or low iron formula was 3.02 (95% CI 1.25-7.27) at 6 months and 3.05 (95% CI 1.28-7.28) at 12 months. This study shows iron-deficiency anemia to be a problem in Inuit infants as young as 6 months old. Breastfed infants were better protected against iron deficiency than infants fed cow's milk or low-iron formula.
Willows
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ND
School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec.
Dewailly
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E
Gray-Donald
K
K
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D004930:Inuit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins