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Community child health, public health, and epidemiology
Haematological effect of iron supplementation in breast fed term low birth weight infants
  1. D Aggarwal1,
  2. H P S Sachdev1,
  3. J Nagpal1,
  4. T Singh2,
  5. V Mallika3
  1. 1Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi 110 002, India
  2. 2Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Pathology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi 110 002, India
  3. 3Department of Biochemistry, G.B. Pant Hospital, New Delhi 110 002, India
  1. Correspondence to:
    Prof. H P S Sachdev
    E-6/12, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi-110 057, India; hpssachdevhotmail.com

Abstract

Aims: To determine the haematological effects of iron supplementation in predominantly breast fed term low birth weight (LBW) infants.

Methods: Seventy three healthy term LBW (<2500 g), predominantly breast fed infants aged 50–80 days were randomised into two groups to receive either iron (3 mg/kg/day) (iron supplemented (IS) group; n = 37) or placebo drops (placebo (P) group; n = 36). Haematological parameters and anthropometry were measured at baseline and repeated after four and eight weeks.

Results: A total of 62 subjects (32 in the IS group and 30 in the P group) came for the first follow up and 26 (13 in the IS group and 13 in the P group) reported for the second visit. There were no significant differences in serum ferritin and anthropometry. However, covariates (infant age, haemoglobin, and ferritin, and maternal haemoglobin) adjusted haemoglobin change was significantly higher in the IS group after four weeks (4.6 g/l; 95% CI 0.5 to 8.8) and eight weeks (8.6 g/l; 95% CI 1.8 to 15.4).

Conclusions: Iron supplementation in a therapeutic dose in term breast fed LBW infants results in a marginal increase in haemoglobin. The functional benefit of this haemoglobin rise requires further evaluation.

  • AGA, appropriate for gestational age
  • IS, iron supplemented
  • LBW, low birth weight
  • P, placebo
  • SGA, small for gestational age
  • breast feeding
  • infant
  • iron supplementation
  • low birth weight
  • term

https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.2003.040410

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    Footnotes

    • Funding: The iron supplements and placebo solutions were donated by a pharmaceutical house not manufacturing iron drops