Effect of timing of cord clamping on the iron status of infants at 3 months
Geethanath, R.M.; Ramji, S.; Thirupuram, S.; Rao, Y.N.
Indian Pediatrics 34(2): 103-106
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 9255002 Document Number: 481822
Term neonates born to mothers with uncomplicated pregnancies in India with haemoglobin >10 g/dl, were assigned to early (n=48) or late (n=59) clamping groups at the time of delivery at a tertiary hospital. Outcome measures evaluated were serum ferritin (by sandwich ELISA technique) and haemoglobin (by the cyanmethaemoglobin method) in infants at 3 months of age. Groups had comparable baseline characteristics such as maternal age, parity, weight, supplemental Fe intake in pregnancy, infant birth weight, gestation and sex. Ferritin and haemoglobin values were comparable between the 2 groups for maternal and cord blood at birth and in infants at 3 months. It is concluded that Fe stores at 3 months in term infants are not influenced by the timing of cord clamping at birth.