Iron status in the first year of life

Abstract

The iron status of babies of different race born at term to mothers in an inner city area was studied at birth and during the first year of life and related to maternal iron status. Haemoglobin and ferritin were measured in the mother at term (n = 81) and in the baby in cord blood (n = 81), at 6 months (n = 55), and at 1 year (n = 51). No relationship was found between the iron status of mothers and their babies at birth. However, iron stores at birth did affect later iron status, cord ferritin being significantly related to ferritin at 6 months (r = 0.42, p less than 0.01) and 1 year (r = 0.55, p less than 0.01) but not to haemoglobin at these ages. No relationship was found between haemoglobin iron at birth and subsequent iron status. Introduction of full cow's milk before the age of 6 months was associated with iron deficiency at this age and at 1 year. By the age of 1 year, iron deficiency was also associated with feeding greater than 900 ml whole cow's milk a day, inadequate feeding with solids, and higher weight gain. No stool parasites were found at the age of 1 year, and the presence of occult blood in stools did not significantly affect iron status at this age. At 1 year of age, 49% of these infants had low iron stores, including 20% with iron deficiency anaemia. Considerable improvement could result from simple changes in dietary practices.