Utilization of supplemental iron by premature infants fed fortified human milk

• Published in: Acta pædiatrica (Oslo) 1999-07, Vol.88 (7), p.763-767
• Main Authors: MOODY, G. J, SCHANLER, R. J, ABRAMS, S. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight; Energy Intake; Erythrocyte Count; Food, Fortified; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Iron, Dietary; Medical sciences; Milk, Human; Nutritional survey. Food supply and nutritional requirement
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1080/08035259950169062

We measured red blood cell iron incorporation (RBC-inc) in 13 human milk-fed premature infants (birthweight 1037 +/- 289 g, gestational age 27 +/- 2 wk, weight at start of study 1571 +/- 426 g) who were receiving full tube-feedings of human milk fortified with a commercial human milk fortifier (FortHM). The relative RBC-inc of supplemental iron (2 mg/kg/d of ferrous sulfate) was assessed using 57Fe sulfate mixed directly into a 24-h volume of FortHM, and 54Fe sulfate given as a bolus between two FortHM feedings the next day. RBC-inc was similar between the two methods of supplemental iron administration (4.7 +/- 2.5% vs 4.6 +/- 1.5%, respectively). Although these values are lower than RBC-inc expected from iron native to human milk, the relatively large amount of iron in the supplements contributed most of the iron incorporated into RBC by the infants. There was a significant positive correlation between the reticulocyte count and RBC-inc. As the high nutrient (especially calcium) content of the FortHM did not interfere with iron utilization, adding iron directly to FortHM, or incorporating it into commercial fortifiers, may be a practical method to provide iron to premature infants.