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Serum ferritin in term and preterm infants
Author(s) -
MESSER R. D.,
RUSSO ANNA M.,
McWHIRTER W. R.,
SPRANGEMEYER DAWN,
HALLIDAY JUNE W.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1980.tb01292.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ferritin , serum ferritin , cord blood , full term , physiology , serum concentration , pediatrics , gastroenterology , obstetrics , endocrinology , pregnancy , immunology , biology , genetics
Abstract Serum ferritin levels were examined in maternal serum, In cord sera and at one, four, eight and twelve weeks in 19 term and 28 preterm infants. There was no correlation between maternal and cord ferritin levels. Mean serum ferritin concentration was lower in preterm infants, and both term and preterm Infants exhibited' an initial rise in serum ferritin concentration followed by a steady fall. Serum ferritin concentration showed a good correlation with calculated iron stores at twelve weeks of age suggesting that serum ferritin estimation is the method of choice for monitoring body iron stores in infants. No correlation was found between serum ferritin concentration and calculated iron intake at any age in either term or preterm infants. It is suggested that iron supplementation additional to that present in modified cow's milk is not necessary for the first twelve weeks of life in either term or preterm infants.