Abstract
Six preterm infants (< 1.5Kg B.Wt & <31 wks gest.) and two light for dates infants (<1.5Kg B.wt & >37 wks gest.) were studied by serial metabolic balances for 20 to 70 days. Iron was added to the milk from day 30 onwards. Iron analyses of diet, stool, and urine were made by atomic absorption spectrometry. The six preterm infants, when fed unsupplemented milk (iron = 0.043mg/100ml) were in small -ve iron balance (mean, -0.13 mg/Kg.day). The two light for dates infants were in a small +ve iron balance (mean, +0.084 mg/Kg.day). Augmenting the milk iron (mean 3.8 mg/ 100 ml) on day 30 led to increased iron absorption in all the preterm infants on day 30 (mean 2.4 mg/Kg.day, mean % absorption, 33%). After day 30 the absorption was very variable. In two infants who received no blood transfusions iron absorption from day 30 onwards averaged 33% (mean 3.0 mg/Kg.day). Three infants received blood transfusions and following each transfusion iron absorption fell, and in two infants it became -ve, becoming +ve again when the haemoglobin concentration fell below 12g/100 ml. These data suggest that a controlling mechanism for iron absorption is present in preterm infants. In one case far more iron was absorbed than was required for erythropoiesis indicating perhaps immaturity of the control of iron absorption.
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Dauncey, J., Shaw, J. & Urman, J. 123: Iron absorption by low birth weight infants from pasteurised human breast milk. Pediatr Res 10, 890 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197610000-00114
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197610000-00114