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
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