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Iron status at birth, umbilical cord clamping time, breastfeeding status and infant sex are determinants of iron status at six months of age
Author(s) -
Chaparro C M,
Neufeld L M,
Dewey K G
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a165
Subject(s) - medicine , breastfeeding , ferritin , anemia , umbilical cord , iron deficiency , hematocrit , birth weight , soluble transferrin receptor , iron status , pregnancy , obstetrics , hemoglobin , pediatrics , physiology , immunology , biology , genetics
We examined the relative importance of different variables for predicting iron status at 6 mo of age in a sample of term infants (n = 476) randomized to receive early or delayed umbilical cord clamping and followed through 6 mo of age in Mexico City. At 0, 2, 4 and 6 mo of age we collected data on infant growth, diet and morbidity; at 6 mo, we collected an infant venous blood sample. Outcome variables were infant hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), mean cell volume (MCV), and plasma ferritin and transferrin receptor (TfR). At 6 mo of age, 17% of males and 10% of females were anemic, but iron deficiency (6–7%) and iron deficiency anemia (1–3%) were uncommon. Using multiple linear regression analysis, Hgb and Hct were associated positively with maternal height and prenatal iron supplementation and negatively with breastfeeding at 6 mo of age. Iron status was associated positively with delayed cord clamping (MCV, ferritin, TfR), maternal or placental iron status (MCV, ferritin), use of iron‐fortified infant formula (ferritin, TfR) and birth weight (ferritin), and negatively with male sex (MCV, ferritin, TfR), weight gain since birth (MCV, ferritin, TfR), recent illness (TfR) and breastfeeding at 6 mo (MCV). Factors that operate before and during pregnancy and at the time of delivery are important determinants of infant hematological and iron status at 6 mo of age. Funded by the Thrasher Research Fund and the US Fulbright Program.