A comparative study on iron deficiency anemia based on feeding patterns of nine-month-old infants.
10.3345/kjp.2008.51.8.820
- Author:
Hyun Jin YUN
1
;
Eun Jeong CHOI
;
Eun Jin CHOI
;
Su Young HONG
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Il Sin Christian Hospital, Busan, Korea. prifen@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Comparative Study ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Iron deficiency;
Anemia;
Infants;
Feeding pattern
- MeSH:
Anemia;
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency;
Erythrocyte Indices;
Feeding Behavior;
Hematocrit;
Hematologic Tests;
Humans;
Infant;
Iron;
Mass Screening;
Milk;
Parents;
Weaning
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatrics
2008;51(8):820-826
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the red cell indices and frequency of iron deficiency anemia based on the feeding patterns of nine-month-old infants. METHODS: Blood tests were performed on 253 nine-month-old infants, who visited Il Sin Christian Hospital for health checkups from January to December 2007. Their parents answered telephonic questions regarding their feeding patterns and weaning foods. RESULTS: Three infants groups were created according to feeding patterns before they started weaning foods. One group was exclusively breast-fed (48.6%), another had mixed feeding (27.3%), and the third had artificial milk feeding (24.1%). Red cell indices (hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH) of the breast-fed group were comparatively lower than those of the other two groups (P<0.05). Twenty-five infants (9.9%) were diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia. According to feeding patterns, the frequency of anemia was highest in the breast-fed group. Six infants who started weaning foods before six months of age (113 infants) were diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia (5.3%), and nineteen who started after six months of age (140 infants) were diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia (13.6%). CONCLUSION: When nine-month old infants visit hospitals for health check-ups, pediatricians must consider their feeding pattern and weaning foods histories, and then recommend screening blood tests for iron-deficiency anemia.
