Premium
Iron for the Suckling
Author(s) -
AGGETT P. J.,
BARCLAY S.,
WHITLEY J. E.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.1989.78.s361.96
Subject(s) - medicine , iron deficiency , low birth weight , pediatrics , iron status , iron levels , birth weight , breast feeding , dietary iron , pregnancy , endocrinology , anemia , biology , genetics
Aggett, P. J., Barclay, S. and Whitley, J. E. (Department of Child Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, and Scottish Universities' Research and Reactor Centre, East Kilbride, Scotland). Iron for the suckling. Knowledge of the metabolism of iron by young infants is incomplete but combining practical studies based on detecting the onset of iron depletion with isotopic studies of iron economy may improve our understanding of iron metabolism in infants and our strategies for ensuring their iron supply. The iron accumulated by the fetus is enough to delay the risk of iron deficiency until four, and two months of age in term and preterm infants respectively. Breast fed term infants may not need extra iron until they are six months or older; but whereas low iron formulas are adequate for other infants until about four months of age, therafter infants need extra iron which can be provided effectively in iron fortified formulas. Breast fed low birth weight infants need iron supplements from two months of age but those fed specific low birth weight formulas which are iron fortified should not need extra iron.