Effect of Two levels of Iron Supplementation of Infant Formulas on Developmental Outcome and Iron nutrition in Very Low Birth Weight Infants† 1495

Abstract

Conflicting opinions exist over the optimal amount of iron that low birth weight infants (LBW)should receive and for how long they should receive iron post discharge from hospital. Further,little information is available on the effect of poor iron nutrition on the neurodevelopmental outcome of LBW infants. We have previously demonstrated(CMAJ 1990:143;733-37)that 33% of LBW infants at 9 months of age fed an iron supplemented formula(12mg/l)for 6 months,had ferritin levels indicative of depleted iron stores. To investigate the effect of increased iron intakes on neurodevelopment, we randomly assigned infants at 2000g weight to receive either a formula with 12mg iron/l(iron) or 21 mg/l(high iron). The infants received either formula for a period of one year. At baseline, 3 months of age and 9 months of age the following measurements were taken: weight, hemoglobin, malondialdehyde (MDA), ferritin, and Griffiths Mental Develoment Scales. Statistical analysis between groups was with unpaired t-test using the Bonferonni correction for multiple comparisons. There were no statistical differences demonstrated between groups for any variables. There were no difference in birth weight or gestation between groups(bw=1432g ±390, gestation=31.5wks±2.3, N=29,iron group, N=31,high iron group). All statistics are reported as mean±sd. Table