Journal
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
Volume 10, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.880431
Keywords
breastfeeding; low birth weight infant; anemia; lactation; iron supplementation
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Funding
- Zuventus Healthcare Ltd
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This study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal iron supplementation on the iron status of exclusively breastfed low-birth-weight infants. The study found that 26.6% of infants developed anemia at 6 months of age, with no difference in the number of anemic infants whether mothers received iron for 3 or 6 months. However, infants whose mothers received iron for 6 months had significantly higher levels of hemoglobin and serum ferritin.
Background: The effect of maternal iron supplementation during lactation on the iron status of exclusively breastfed low-birth-weight (LBW) infants is not known. Objective: (1) To find out the number of LBW exclusively breastfed infants having hemoglobin < 10.5 g/dL at 6 months when mothers received iron. (2) To find out the proportion of anemic infants when mothers received iron for 3 and 6 months. Design: The Clinical Trials Registry, India (CTRI) registered trial (CTRI/2018/08/015516) double-blind randomized control trial participants: A total of 80 anemic mothers and exclusively breastfed LBW infants. Intervention: A total of 80 anemic mothers and exclusively breastfed infants, birth weight 1,500-2,499 g, randomized into two groups of 40 each. Mothers received daily iron for 3 months and placebo for the next 3 months in group A and iron for 6 months in group B. Iron profile of mothers and infants measured at recruitment and 6 months. Results: In total, 26.6% infants developed anemia till 6 months of age, and number of anemic infants were similar whether mothers received iron for 3 (n = 9) or 6 months (n = 11). Hemoglobin (12.89 + 0.46 vs. 12.44 + 0.48 g/dL; p < 0.001) and serum ferritin (27.45 + 7.60 vs. 18.94 + 5.36 ng/mL; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in infants at 6 months of age whose mothers received iron for 6 months in comparison to 3 months. Conclusion: totally, 26.6% exclusively breastfed infants developed anemia till 6 months of age when mothers took iron; number of anemic infants were not different if mothers received iron for 3 or 6 months. A significant increase was noted in serum ferritin with slightly higher hemoglobin of infants when mothers received iron for longer duration.
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