Comparison of two dosage regimens of iron in preterm infants for the prevention of iron deficiency: A prospective interventional study

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND: The majority of infants born <32 weeks of gestation develop anemia. The cause depends on multiple factors, most common being iron deficiency. Iron being a major nutrient, its deficiency may lead to irreversible neurodevelopment and cognitive impairment and overdose lead to neurodegeneration and gastrointestinal intolerance. Although the need for iron and outcome of iron deficiencies has been studied much, valid studies pertaining dosage for prevention of iron deficiency in preterm infants are insufficient. OBJECTIVE: To compare two dosage regimens of iron for the prevention of iron deficiency among preterm infants born <32 weeks at 6 weeks of chronological age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective interventional study performed in a level III neonatal intensive care unit. A total of 64 infants with <32 weeks of gestation were studied, were classified into two grouped, and initiated with iron at two different doses (2 and 4 mg/kg/day). The preintervention and postintervention hemoglobin and serum ferritin were compared at 6 weeks of chronological age. RESULTS: Of the 32 babies with iron initiated at 2 mg/kg/day, 21 babies had low hemoglobin level and 11 babies had normal hemoglobin level, and 10 babies had low ferritin level and 22 babies had normal ferritin level. Of the 32 babies with iron at 4 mg/kg/day, all babies had normal hemoglobin and ferritin levels. Conclusion: The incidence of anemia is lower in the infants receiving iron at 4 mg/kg/day compared with infants receiving iron at 2 mg/kg/day.