A comparative study on iron deficiency anemia based on feeding patterns of nine-month-old infants

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. (Korean J Pediatr 2008;51:820-826