Iron deficiency (ID) affects up to 25% of Swedish infants and severe ID is associated with cognitive and behavioral problems. To avoid this, iron supplements or iron-fortified infant foods are recommended for infants. However, the optimal iron dose and mode of delivery have not yet been established. This is a concern as excessive iron intake may impair growth and increase morbidity in iron-sufficient infants. Previous studies have suggested that iron-fortified foods may have different effects than iron supplements. In this study, the investigators will investigate whether the mode of iron administration (supplementation vs. fortification) and the amount consumed (high intakes vs. low intakes) affect iron absorption, iron utilization, and zinc absorption in healthy term non-iron-deficient 6-month-old infants.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
72
6.3 mg iron from iron drops and 0.3 mg iron from infant formula with no added iron (0.5 mg iron/L) for 45 days
6.6 mg iron from iron-fortified infant formula (12.4 mg iron/L) for 45 days
1.2 mg iron from iron-fortified infant formula (2.3 mg iron/L) for 45 days
Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University Hospital
Umeå, Sweden
iron absorption
Time frame: 1 month after enrollment
indicators of iron metabolism, growth, and oxidative stress
Time frame: 1 month and 1.5 months after enrollment
zinc absorption
Time frame: 1 month after enrollment
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