Iron deficiency in eight-month-old babies
Sadler, S.
Professional Care of Mother and Child 6(3): 65; 68-69
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0964-4156 PMID: 8718003 Document Number: 460367
Iron deficiency is the most commonly reported nutritional disorder of early childhood in the UK. Recently, blood samples taken from 1,075 normal 8-month-old babies in the ALSPAC study in Bristol showed that 23% were anaemic according to WHO criteria. Anaemia was not associated with poor socioeconomic circumstances. The more rapid the growth of the child, the more depleted the iron stores. The findings of the study suggest that the currently accepted normal values for iron levels in young children may be too high, but further research is needed. Infants whose main milk was cow's milk at eight months had the lowest intakes of iron and vitamin C.