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HAEMOGLOBIN LEVELS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE IN LOW BIRTHWEIGHT BABIES RECEIVING IRON SUPPLEMENTS
Author(s) -
Grunseit F.,
Lewis C. J.,
Stevens L. H.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1971.tb87444.x
Subject(s) - low birth weight , iron supplement , birth weight , medicine , pediatrics , in utero , iron deficiency , iron status , obstetrics , pregnancy , anemia , fetus , biology , genetics
Hæmoglobin levels were measured at regular intervals during the first year of life in low birth weight babies drawn from families mainly of lower economic status. A supplement of 10 to 15 mg of elemental iron was added to their diet daily. Their hæmoglobin concentration compared favourably with the levels reported in studies of infants of excellent nutrition drawn from high socio‐economic groups. Infants of low birth weight and more than 38 weeks’ gestation appeared to make the most satisfactory progress. This suggests either that fœtal growth retardation was not associated with impaired acquisition of iron in utero, or alternatively, if it was, that such deficiencies as existed at birth were offset by more efficient absorption of iron ingested after birth. Among highly motivated mothers, practice rather than cost was the main factor influencing iron intake in the long term. After six to nine months, they became increasingly concerned that their child should conform to nutritional patterns which they regarded as normal for full‐term babies. Unfortunately it is still not generally appreciated that iron supplementation, in the form of iron‐fortified cereal, or iron‐supplemented milk or of iron medication, should continue to the age of 12 to 18 months, regardless of birth weight.