Nutritional Iron Deficiency in Early Childhood

Abstract

• The true prevalence of nutritional iron deficiency (ID) in childhood is unclear because of the uncertainty over its definition and the insensitivity of markers of ID. • The major cause in developed countries is likely to be the excessive and early use of cow’s milk and a diet poor in haem iron. • Recent neuro-physiological observations support the many field studies correlating ID with cognitive and motor developmental delay in young children, although proof of causality has not been established because of environmental confounding. • Population iron supplementation is a potentially effective means of prevention of ID but is limited by poor compliance and the risk of increased morbidity and mortality in malarious regions. • Fortification of milk and essential infant foods is likely to be the most cost-effective means of improving the iron status of child populations.