Risk of infant anemia is associated with exclusive breast-feeding and maternal anemia in a Mexican cohort.
The WHO recommends exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) for the first 6 mo of life to decrease the burden of infectious disease. However, some are concerned about the effect of EBF >6 mo on iron status of children in developing countries in which anemia is prevalent. This study examines the risk of anemia in relation to the duration of EBF and maternal anemia in a birth cohort studied between March 1998 and April 2003. All infant birth weights were >or=2.2 kg. All mothers received home-based peer counseling to promote EBF. Infant feeding data were collected weekly. Nurses measured hemoglobin (Hb) values every 3 mo. Hb was measured in 183 infants at 9 mo of age. Anemia at 9 mo was defined as a Hb value <100 g/L. EBF was defined by WHO criteria and ranged in duration from 0 to 31 wk. At 9 mo, Hb (mean +/- SEM) was 114 +/- 0.9 g/L; 23 children (12.5%) had Hb levels <100 g/L. EBF >6 mo, but not EBF 4-6 mo, was associated with increased risk of infant anemia compared with EBF <4 mo (odds ratio=18.4, 95% CI=1.9, 174.0). Maternal anemia was independently (P=0.03) associated with a 3-fold increased risk of infant anemia. These associations were not explained by confounding with other maternal or infant factors. By linear regression, a lower infant Hb at 9 mo was associated with increased EBF duration among mothers who had a history of anemia (beta=-0.07, P=0.003), but not among mothers with no history of anemia. Infants who are exclusively breast-fed for >6 mo in developing countries may be at increased risk of anemia, especially among mothers with a poor iron status; greater attention to this issue is warranted.
Meinzen-Derr
Jareen K
JK
Departament of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College Of Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Guerrero
M Lourdes
ML
Altaye
Mekibib
M
Ortega-Gallegos
Hilda
H
Ruiz-Palacios
Guillermo M
GM
Morrow
Ardythe L
AL
D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D009035:Mothers; D012307:Risk Factors; D014944:World Health Organization
D006454:Hemoglobins; D007501:Iron