title: [Hemoglobin concentration in children from birth to one year of age].
abstract: This study aimed to describe the evolution of hemoglobin concentration considering the following factors: birth weight, growth rate, and food intake. The cross-sectional study focused on infants (<1 year of age) whose growth and development were monitored by public health services in cities located in the five geographic regions of Brazil. Some 51.7% of the children aged 6 to 12 months presented anemia. Estimation of [Hb] concentration by a theoretical equation suggested that endogenous iron is able to maintain normal Hb levels in the first three months of life. Prevalence of reduced Hb was higher in low birth weight infants. Growth rate, verified by the difference between present weight and birth weight in Z scores, was not the relevant factor for hemoglobin concentration. The relevance of breastfeeding was evident in the initial months of life. However, complementary foods did not influence infant Hb concentration. The high prevalence of low Hb levels calls attention to the need for programs to control anemia.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrição, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Sophia Cornbluth
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Szarfarc
authors.forename: Sonia Buongermino
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Rosemeire Aparecida Victória
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Furumoto
authors.forename: Gisela Soares
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Brunken
authors.forename: Ana Marlúcia Oliveira
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.forename: Edileuza Nunes
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Gaudenzi
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia Ribeiro
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: José Maria Pacheco
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Souza
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001724:Birth Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins