title: Iron supplementation is positively associated with increased serum ferritin levels in 9-month-old Danish infants.
abstract: Fe deficiency is still common in infancy, even in affluent societies, and has prompted Fe fortification of food products and use of Fe supplements in many populations. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that Fe status among 9-month-old infants following the Danish Fe supplementation recommendation (>400 ml Fe-fortified formula or 8 mg Fe/d) is associated with more favourable levels of Fe status indicators compared to those not following the recommendation. A random sample of 9-month-old infants living in Copenhagen was established and 312 healthy term infants were examined at 9·1 (sd 0·3) months of age. Blood samples were available from 278 infants. Overall, twenty infants (7·8 %) had Fe deficiency (serum ferritin < 12 μg/l) and < 1 % had Fe deficiency anaemia (serum ferritin < 12 μg/l and Hb < 100 g/l). Serum ferritin was positively associated with birth weight (P < 0·001), intake of fortified formula and follow-on formula (P = 0·001), and female sex (P < 0·001). Cow's milk intake and length of exclusive breast-feeding were negatively associated with Hb levels (P = 0·013 and P < 0·001). Serum ferritin levels were significantly higher (P < 0·0001) and transferrin receptor (TfR) was significantly lower (P = 0·003) among infants (n 188) meeting the Fe supplementation recommendation compared to those (n 67) not meeting the recommendation. No significant difference between these two groups was found for Hb. In conclusion, this study confirmed that Fe status of infants following the Danish Fe supplementation recommendation was significantly associated with increased serum ferritin and decreased levels of TfR indicating more favourable Fe status, compared to infants not following the recommendation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Mørkhøj Bygade 19, 2860 Søborg, Denmark. uhgon@food.dtu.dk
authors.forename: Ulla Holmboe
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Gondolf
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tetens
authors.forename: Kim F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Michaelsen
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trolle
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000009:adverse effects; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C068126:CD71 antigen; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins