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 Hb<11 g/dl and iron stores,15 ng/ml were significantly more frequent in BM and CM groups than in FM group (P<0.05). 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 (P<0.05). 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), while >50% were weaned before 6th month of age. FM feeding and weaning <6 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 weaned <6 months of life had, regardless of milk feeding, higher Hb and ferritin levels than weaned >6 months.