Diet and iron deficiency in the first year of life: a retrospective study

In an observational cohort of 385 infants, we have investigated the relationship between hemoglobin (Hb) levels and iron stores and the type of milk feeding [breast milk (BM), formula milk (FM), cow's milk (CM), age and type of weaning, and socioeconomic status] at 8 and 12 months of age. Levels of Hb11 g/dl and iron stores15 ng/ml were significantly more frequent in BM and CM groups than in FM group (P0·05). Significant differences of Hb mean were observed among the three groups, while ferritin mean were lower in BM and CM groups than in FM group (P0·05). Socioeconomic factors also influenced Hb levels and iron stores through differences in diet. Deprived infants were 23·1% of cohort and many of them received BM (43·5% at 8 months versus 38·5% at 12 months) or CM (42·6% at 8 months versus 47% at 12 months), while50% were weaned before 6th month of age. FM feeding and weaning6 months of age are related with better Hb levels and iron stores. Analysis of the impact of weaning on Hb levels and iron stores showed that infants weaned6 months of life had, regardless of milk feeding, higher Hb and ferritin levels than weaned6 months.