title: Iron deficiency in the first 6 months of age in infants born between 32 and 37 weeks of gestational age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preterm infants are at risk of iron deficiency (ID). In the Netherlands, preterm infants born after 32 weeks of gestational age (GA) do not receive iron supplementation on a routine basis. We hypothesized that dietary iron intake in these infants might not be sufficient to meet the high iron requirements during the first 6 months of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective cohort study, we analyzed the prevalence and risk factors of ID in 143 infants born between 32+0 and 36+6 weeks GA who did not receive iron supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ID at the age of 4 and 6 months was present in 27 (18.9%) and 7 (4.9%) infants. Results of a multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that ID was associated with lower birth weight, a shorter duration of formula feeding, more weight gain in the first 6 months of life and lower ferritin concentrations at the age of 1 week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preterm infants born after 32 weeks GA have an increased risk of ID compared with those born at term, supporting the need of iron supplementation. Our results suggests that measurement of ferritin at the age of 1 week might be useful to identify those infants at particular risk and could be used in populations without general supplementation programs. However, the efficacy and safety of individualized iron supplementation, based on ferritin concentrations at the age of 1 week, together with other predictors of ID, needs to be further investigated, preferably in a randomized controlled trial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Juliana Children's Hospital/HAGA Teaching Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Uijterschout
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Domellöf
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbink
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Juliana Children's Hospital/HAGA Teaching Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van Veen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center Haaglanden, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Juliana Children's Hospital/HAGA Teaching Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rövekamp
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boersma
authors.affiliation: LabWest, HAGA Teaching Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hudig
authors.affiliation: Haga Academy, HAGA Teaching Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands [2] Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital - Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: van Goudoever
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Juliana Children's Hospital/HAGA Teaching Hospital, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brus
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron