Abstract
Studies in animals and metabolic balance studies in infants showed that iron negatively interacts with zinc and copper at the site of absorption. Most infants receive formulas fortified with iron up to a level of 2mg/100kcal. Therefore we studied iron, zinc and copper intake and nutritional status of healthy, term infants receiving an iron fortified (1.6mgFe/100kcal; group Fe; n=15) or a non fortified (0.05mgFe/100kcal; group non Fe; n=13) cows milk formula (BebaR, Nestle) from 122 through 365 days of age in a randomized, prospective study. Iron intake at 183, 274 and 365 days of age (from 3 day food record) was significantly higher in the group Fe (p<:0.0001) but zinc and copper intake was similar. Body iron stores estimated from serum ferritin concentration (RIA) were better filled in the Fe group at 365 days of age (p<0.05). We found no difference in serum zinc and serum copper concentrations (ICP) between the two groups from 122 through 365 days of age. Moreover, the copper binding protein ceruloplasmin and the zinc binding proteins a-2 macroglobulin, albumine, prealbumine, retinol-binding protein and transferrin (all determined by radial immunodiffusion) were similar. We conclude that iron intakes in the range of the present infant feeding recommendations (ESPGAN) did not affect zinc and copper natritional status.
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Haschke, F., Pietschnig, B., Vanura, H. et al. 4 HIGH IRON INTAKE DOES NOT NEGATIVELY AFFECT ZINC AND COPPER NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF TERM INFANTS. Pediatr Res 20, 1034 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198610000-00058
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198610000-00058