Iron supplementation .. *****-nilly .. has been shown to be .. bad ..
J Nutr. 2002 Nov;132(11):3249-55. Related Articles, Links
Iron supplementation affects growth and morbidity of breast-fed
infants: results of a randomized trial in Sweden and Honduras.
Dewey KG, Domellof M, Cohen RJ, Landa Rivera L, Hernell O, Lonnerdal B.
Department of Nutrition and Program in International Nutrition,
University of California, Davis, USA.
[email protected]
Iron supplements are often prescribed during infancy but their benefits
and risks have not been well documented. We examined whether iron
supplements affect growth or morbidity of breast-fed infants. Full-term
infants in Sweden (n = 101) and Honduras (n = 131) were randomly
assigned to three groups at 4 mo of age: 1) placebo from 4 to 9 mo; 2)
placebo from 4 to 6 mo and iron supplements [1 mg/(kg. d)] from 6 to 9
mo; or 3) iron supplements from 4 to 9 mo. All infants were exclusively
or nearly exclusively breast-fed to 6 mo and continued to be breast-fed
to at least 9 mo. Growth was measured monthly and morbidity data were
collected every 2 wk. Among the Swedish infants, gains in length and
head circumference were significantly lower in those who received iron
than in those given placebo from 4 to 9 mo. The same effect on length
was seen in Honduras, but only at 4-6 mo among those with initial
hemoglobin (Hb) > or =110 g/L. There was no significant main effect of
iron supplementation on morbidity, nor any significant interaction
between iron supplementation and site, but for diarrhea (with both
sites combined), there was an interaction between iron supplementation
and initial Hb. Among infants with Hb < 110 g/L at 4 mo, diarrhea was
less common among those given iron than in those given placebo from 4-9
mo, whereas the opposite was true among those with Hb > or = 110 g/L (P
< 0.05). We conclude that routine iron supplementation of breast-fed
infants may benefit those with low Hb but may present risks for those
with normal Hb.
Publication Types:
Clinical Trial
Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 12421836 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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