Effect of iron supplementation from neonatal period on the iron status of6-month-old infants at-risk for early iron deficiency: a randomized interventional trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of iron supplementation from the second day after birth on 6-month hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin and motor development in infants at risk of early iron deficiency.

STUDY DESIGN: Term (37-41 weeks) infants of anemic (Hb ≤ 100 g L -1; N  = 100) and non-anemic (Hb > 100 g L -1; N  = 100) mothers were randomized to daily iron supplementation at a dose of 2 mg kg -1 from 36 h of age ( N  = 50, each of anemic and non-anemic mothers) or no iron-supplementation ( N  = 50 each of anemic and non-anemic mothers). Hb, serum ferritin and motor development at 6 months were compared in the two groups.

RESULTS: Iron-supplemented infants had higher Hb (103.7 ± 9.3 g L -1 versus 97.0 ± 9.4 g L -1, p  < .0001) and serum ferritin (133.93 ± 52.41 ng mL -1 versus 78.09 ± 42.03 ng mL -1, p  < .001) concentrations, compared with the no iron-supplementation group. Their motor development was closer to age-appropriate norms than the no iron-supplementation group (5.83 ± 0.69 versus 5.18 ± 1.35, p  < .01).

CONCLUSION: Early Iron supplementation is effective for improving iron status and motor development at 6 months in infants at risk for early iron deficiency.