COMPARATIVE HEMATOLOGIC RESPONSE TO IRON FORTIFICATION OF A MILK FORMULA FOR INFANTS

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Abstract
Seventy-four full-term and 42 premature infants were studied from birth to 9 months of age in relation to intake of iron. All were maintained on a vitamin-supplemented milk diet, and approximately a third had iron supplementation of 12 mg in 32 fluid ounces of milk intake. Significant differences between groups as regards growth, development or number of illnesses were not apparent. The infants fed supplemental iron had higher values for hemoglobin, hematocrit and serum iron, after 3 to 3½ months of age, and these values continued to be significantly higher throughout the 9-month period of observation. Among the infants who received no iron supplement, 2 full-term and 16 premature infants developed evidence of anemia, which responded quickly when the infants were changed to the iron-fortified formula. No signs of toxicity or difficulty were noted in the iron-supplemented group, nor of lack of acceptability by the infants of any formula used in the study.
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