Iron status of exclusively breastfed low-birth-weight infants born to anemic mothers and effect of maternal iron supplementation for 3 versus 6 months: A randomized double-blind placebo control trial

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.

Automated summary

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.