Effects of mode of oral iron administration on serum ferritin and haemoglobin in infants.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate effects of iron-fortified foods (FFs) and medicinal iron drops (MD) on iron status in infants.


METHODS
Data from one MD and one FF study were compared. Infants were divided into groups depending on the predominant source and amount of dietary iron during 6-9 months of age: MD: Medicinal iron drops (1 mg/kg/day). FF: iron intake >1.3 mg/kg/day, predominantly from FF and no iron supplements. Low iron (LI) group: iron intake <1.3 mg/kg/day and no iron supplements.


RESULTS
Mean iron intake did not differ between MD (n = 30) and FF (n = 35) groups but was lower in the LI (n = 232) group. The FF group had significantly higher mean Hb at 9 months compared to the MD and LI groups (120 vs. 115 g/L and 120 vs. 116 g/L, respectively, p < or = 0.005). The MD group had significantly higher mean SF at 9 months compared to the FF and the LI groups (46 vs. 23 microg/L and 46 vs. 26 microg/L, respectively, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that, in healthy, term, nonanaemic 6-9-month-old infants, iron given as medicinal iron drops is primarily deposited into iron stores while iron given as iron-fortified foods is primarily utilized for Hb synthesis.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. magnus.domellof@pediatri.umu.se
Magnus
M
Domellöf
Torbjörn
T
Lind
Bo
B
Lönnerdal
Lars Ake
LA
Persson
Kathryn G
KG
Dewey
Olle
O
Hernell
D000284:Administration, Oral; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male
D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron