Iron status at 12 months of age -- effects of body size, growth and diet in a population with high birth weight.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate effects of growth and food intake in infancy on iron status at the age of 12 months in a population with high birth weight and high frequency of breast-feeding.


METHODS
In a longitudinal observational study infants' consumption and growth were recorded. Weighed 2 day food records at the ages of 6, 9 and 12 months were used to analyse food and nutrient intake.


METHODS
Healthy-born participants were recruited from four maternity wards. Blood samples and growth data were collected from healthcare centres and food consumption data at home.


METHODS
Newborn infants (n=180) were selected randomly according to the mother's domicile and 77% (n=138) participated, of them, 83% (n=114), or 63% of original sample, came in for blood sampling.


RESULTS
Every fifth child was iron-deficient (serum ferritin <12 microg/l and mean corpuscular volume<74 fl) and 2.7% were also anaemic (Hb<105 g/l). Higher weight gain from 0 to 12 months was seen in infants who were iron-deficient at 12 months (6.7+/-0.9 kg) than in non-iron-deficient infants (6.2+/-0.9 kg) (P=0.050). Serum transferrin receptors at 12 months were positively associated with length gain from 0 to 12 months (adjusted r(2)=0.14; P=0.045) and mean corpuscular volume negatively to ponderal index at birth (adjusted r(2)=0.14; P=0.019) and 12 months (adjusted r(2)=0.17; P=0.006). Iron-deficient infants had shorter breast-feeding duration (5.3+/-2.2 months) than non-iron-deficient (7.9+/-3.2 months; P=0.001). Iron status indices were negatively associated with cow's milk consumption at 9-12 months, significant above 460 g/day, but were positively associated with iron-fortified breakfast cereals, fish and meat consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
: In a population of high birth weight, iron deficiency at 12 months is associated with faster growth and shorter breast-feeding duration from 0 to 12 months of age. The results suggest that a diet of 9-12-month-olds should avoid cow's milk above 500 g/day and include fish, meat and iron-fortified breakfast cereals to improve iron status.
Thorsdottir
I
I
Landspitali University Hospital and Department of Food Science, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. ingathor@landspitali.is
Gunnarsson
B S
BS
Atladottir
H
H
Michaelsen
K F
KF
Palsson
G
G
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight; D001824:Body Constitution; D001827:Body Height; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004032:Diet; D002523:Edible Grain; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005399:Fishes; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008460:Meat; D008892:Milk; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain
D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron