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Iron status at 12 months of age — effects of body size, growth and diet in a population with high birth weight

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 505–513 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To investigate effects of growth and food intake in infancy on iron status at the age of 12 months in a population with high birth weight and high frequency of breast-feeding.

Design: In a longitudinal observational study infants' consumption and growth were recorded. Weighed 2 day food records at the ages of 6, 9 and 12 months were used to analyse food and nutrient intake.

Setting: Healthy-born participants were recruited from four maternity wards. Blood samples and growth data were collected from healthcare centres and food consumption data at home.

Subjects: Newborn infants (n=180) were selected randomly according to the mother's domicile and 77% (n=138) participated, of them, 83% (n=114), or 63% of original sample, came in for blood sampling.

Results: Every fifth child was iron-deficient (serum ferritin<12 µg/l and mean corpuscular volume<74 fl) and 2.7% were also anaemic (Hb<105 g/l). Higher weight gain from 0 to 12 months was seen in infants who were iron-deficient at 12 months (6.7±0.9 kg) than in non-iron-deficient infants (6.2±0.9 kg) (P=0.050). Serum transferrin receptors at 12 months were positively associated with length gain from 0 to 12 months (adjusted r2=0.14; P=0.045) and mean corpuscular volume negatively to ponderal index at birth (adjusted r2=0.14; P=0.019) and 12 months (adjusted r2=0.17; P=0.006). Iron-deficient infants had shorter breast-feeding duration (5.3±2.2 months) than non-iron-deficient (7.9±3.2 months; P=0.001). Iron status indices were negatively associated with cow's milk consumption at 9–12 months, significant above 460 g/day, but were positively associated with iron-fortified breakfast cereals, fish and meat consumption.

Conclusions: In a population of high birth weight, iron deficiency at 12 months is associated with faster growth and shorter breast-feeding duration from 0 to 12 months of age. The results suggest that a diet of 9–12-month-olds should avoid cow's milk above 500 g/day and include fish, meat and iron-fortified breakfast cereals to improve iron status.

Sponsorship: The Icelandic Research Council, Research Fund of the University of Iceland.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff in the laboratories at Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland and the Research Department of Human Nutrition (FHE) at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Landspitali University Hospital and Department of Food Science, Unit for Nutrition Research, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland

    I Thorsdottir, B S Gunnarsson & H Atladottir

  2. Research Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    K F Michaelsen

  3. Children's Hospital, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland

    G Palsson

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  1. I Thorsdottir
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Contributions

Guarantor: I Thorsdottir.

Contributors: IT was project leader and made the greatest contribution to this paper. BSG worked on the calculations and statistical analysis and assisted with the writing of the paper. HA worked on the data collection in the infant dietary survey. KFM participated in the project planning and administered the analysis of ferritin and transferrin receptors. GP participated in the project planning and took care of all blood sampling.

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Correspondence to I Thorsdottir.

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Thorsdottir, I., Gunnarsson, B., Atladottir, H. et al. Iron status at 12 months of age — effects of body size, growth and diet in a population with high birth weight. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 505–513 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601594

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