MEDICINAL IRON TO LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Jansson, L., Holmberg, L. and Ekman, R. (Department of Paediatrics, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, Malmö, Sweden, and Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden). Medicinal iron to low birth weight infants. Acta Paediatr Scand, 68: 705, 1979.—Serum ferritin concentrations were measured during the first 6 months of life in 28 low birth weight infants (mean birth weight 1820 g range 900–2460; mean gestational age 34 weeks range 29–37) fed a standard formula fortified with ferrous sulphate. Fifteen of the infants received supplementary medicinal iron (ferrous succinate) from 3 weeks of age, and 13 only from 2 months of age. All were given vitamin E from 10 days of age. The serum ferritin values did not differ between the groups at 1–2 days, 8–10 weeks or at 6 months. Furthermore, there were no signs of hyperhaemolysis at 8–10 weeks in the group receiving medicinal iron early. The data indicate that the iron content in the formula is sufficient until 2 months of age, but also that there is no disadvantage in starting medicinal iron at 3 weeks of age, if the diet is sufficient in vitamin E.