Sex Differences in Iron Status During Infancy

It is commonly assumed that there is no difference in iron status between male and female infants, despite a lack of studies addressing this question. To study sex differences in different measures of iron status in infants. At 4 months of age, 263 term, breastfed infants (121 Swedish and 142 Hondur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatrics (Evanston) 2002-09, Vol.110 (3), p.545-552
Main Authors: Domellof, Magnus, Lonnerdal, Bo, Dewey, Kathryn G, Cohen, Roberta J, Rivera, L. Landa, Hernell, Olle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anemia
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - prevention & control
Babies
Biological and medical sciences
Breast Feeding
Dietary Supplements
Differences
Double-Blind Method
Female
Hemoglobin
Hemoglobins - metabolism
Honduras
Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology
Humans
Infant
Infants
Iron
Iron (Nutrient)
Iron - administration & dosage
Iron - blood
Iron in the body
Male
Measurement
Medical sciences
Nutritional survey. Food supply and nutritional requirement
Pediatrics
Physiological aspects
Sex differences
Sex Factors
Sexes
Sweden
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Summary:It is commonly assumed that there is no difference in iron status between male and female infants, despite a lack of studies addressing this question. To study sex differences in different measures of iron status in infants. At 4 months of age, 263 term, breastfed infants (121 Swedish and 142 Honduran) were randomized to receive iron supplements or placebo until 9 months of age. Blood samples at 4, 6, and 9 months of age were analyzed for hemoglobin (Hb), mean cell volume (MCV), zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP), plasma ferritin, and transferrin receptors (TfR). At 4, 6, and 9 months, boys had significantly lower Hb, MCV, and ferritin and higher ZPP and TfR than girls. At 9 months, boys had a 10-fold higher risk of being classified as having iron deficiency anemia. The differences at 9 months in MCV (71.6 vs 75.1 fL) and ZPP (59 vs 49 micro mol/mol heme) remained significant after controlling for iron supplementation, site, growth variables, and other possible confounders. For ferritin, there was a remaining sex difference at 9 months among Swedish (29 vs 53 micro g/L) but not Honduran infants. For Hb and TfR, sex differences at 9 months were larger in unsupplemented infants, especially in those with a birth weight of
ISSN:0031-4005
1098-4275
1098-4275
DOI:10.1542/peds.110.3.545