Register for email alerts and news feeds:
This journal | BMJ Group
rss
Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition 1999;81:F45-F49; doi:10.1136/fn.81.1.F45
Copyright © 1999 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 1999;81:F45-F49 ( July )

Iron nutritional status in preterm infants fed formulas fortified with iron

Ian J Griffina, Richard J Cookea, Michael M Reidb, Kenneth P B McCormicka, Jacqui S Smitha

a Neonatal Nutrition Research Group Royal Victoria Infirmary University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, b Department of Haematology

Correspondence to: Dr Ian J Griffin Section of Neonatology Department of Pediatrics Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza Houston TX 77030 USA. Email:igriffin{at}neo.bcm.tmc.edu

Accepted 14 February 1999

AIMS---To prospectively evaluate the iron nutritional status of preterm infants fed either a term (0.5 mg/dl iron) or preterm (0.9 mg/dl) formulas fortified with iron after hospital discharge.
METHODS---Healthy low birthweight preterm infants were randomly assigned into three groups at the time of hospital discharge. Group A were fed an iron fortified preterm formula (0.9 mg/dl iron) until 6 months corrected age; group B, a fortified term formula (0.5 mg/l iron) until 6 months corrected age group C, the preterm formula between hospital discharge and term, then the term formula until 6 months corrected age.
RESULTS---Seventy eight infants were followed up to 6 months corrected age. Iron intake from formula differed significantly between the groups (A, 1.17 mg/kg/day (SD 0.32) > C, 0.86 mg/kg/day (SD 0.40) = B, 0.81 mg/kg/day (SD 0.23); p < 0.0001). Haemoglobin concentrations were similar to those of iron sufficient preterm infants of the same postnatal age, and term infants of the same postmenstrual age (after 3 months of age). There were no significant differences in haemoglobin concentration (p = 0.391), plasma ferritin (A vs B, p = 0.322), or in the incidence of iron deficiency (A vs B, p = 0.534).
CONCLUSIONS---Iron fortified formulas containing between 0.5 and 0.9 mg/dl iron seem to meet the iron nutritional needs of preterm infants after hospital discharge.


Keywords: anaemia; infant formula; iron deficiency; preterm infants

© 1999 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Elizabeth, K. E., Krishnan, V., Zachariah, P. (2007). Auxologic, Biochemical and Clinical (ABC) Profile of Low Birth Weight Babies A 2-year Prospective Study. J Trop Pediatr 53: 374-382 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Marriott, L D, Foote, K D, Bishop, J A, Kimber, A C, Morgan, J B (2003). Weaning preterm infants: a randomised controlled trial. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 88: F302-F307 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Foote, K D, Marriott, L D (2003). Weaning of infants. Arch. Dis. Child. 88: 488-492 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Griffin, I J, Reid, M M, McCormick, K P B, Cooke, R J (2002). Zinc protoporphyrin/haem ratio and plasma ferritin in preterm infants. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 87: F49-51 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sweet, D. G, Savage, G. A, Tubman, R., Lappin, T. R J, Halliday, H. L (2001). Cord blood transferrin receptors to assess fetal iron status. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 85: F46-48 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sweet, D G, Savage, G, Tubman, T R J, Lappin, T R J, Halliday, H L (2001). Study of maternal influences on fetal iron status at term using cord blood transferrin receptors. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 84: 40F-43 [Abstract] [Full Text]  

This Article

Services
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Topic Collections
Bookmark with

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.

Latest from ADC

 

ADC is co-owned by the RCPCH and is the official journal of the European Academy of Paediatrics

BMJ Careers - Latest Paediatrics and Paediatric Surgery Jobs

Paediatrics and Paediatric Surgery Jobs

Show me all >>