Find out the daily iron needs for infants. Ensure your baby is getting the right amount of iron for healthy development.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Age (months) | |
| Weight (kg) | |
| Birth Weight (kg) | |
| Iron Needs (mg/day) |
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Discover the essential information on daily iron requirements for infants. Learn about iron physiology, risk factors, and dietary recommendations to ensure healthy growth and development.
Iron is a key element in human metabolism, involved in oxygen and electron transport, and DNA synthesis. It plays a crucial role in hematopoiesis, maintaining red blood cells within a narrow range. Approximately 65% of body iron is in hemoglobin, with the remainder stored in splenic and hepatic macrophages, myoglobin, cytochromes, and other ferroproteins.
Iron absorption depends largely on iron status. The human body has a limited ability to excrete excess iron, which is regulated at the level of intestinal absorption by hepatically synthesized hepcidin. Iron absorption decreases when the body is iron-replete and increases when deficient.
0-6 Months: Most healthy term infants of normal birth weight are born with sufficient iron stores to meet their needs, including hemoglobin synthesis, until they are 6 months old. Exclusive breastfeeding is generally sufficient during this period.
7-12 Months: At around 6 months, iron stores become depleted, and breast milk alone cannot meet the increased iron requirements. Health Canada recommends 11 mg/day of elemental iron for infants aged 7 to 12 months.
1-3 Years: Due to slower growth rates after the first year, iron recommendations decrease to 7 mg/day for children aged 1 to 3 years.
Several factors increase the risk of iron deficiency in infants, including:
Breast Milk and Formula: Human milk provides about 0.27 mg/day of iron, which is sufficient until around 6 months. Formula-fed infants should receive iron-fortified formula containing 4-12 mg/L of iron.
Complementary Foods: From the age of 6 months, all infants should receive iron-rich complementary foods, such as meat, meat products, and iron-fortified cereals. Health Canada and other authorities recommend delaying cow’s milk as the main drink until after the first year and limiting its intake thereafter to ensure adequate iron intake from other sources.
Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants: The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends routine iron supplementation for preterm infants for the first year. The dosage varies depending on birth weight:
Full-term Infants: For full-term infants, iron supplementation is generally not required unless there are specific risk factors for iron deficiency. Exclusive breastfeeding is encouraged for the first 6 months, with the introduction of iron-rich complementary foods thereafter.
Understanding and addressing iron requirements in infants is crucial for their growth, development, and overall health. Parents and caregivers should ensure that infants receive adequate iron through breastfeeding, iron-fortified formulas, and appropriate complementary foods. Regular check-ups with healthcare professionals are essential to monitor iron status and prevent iron deficiency anemia.