Another abstract from Medscape demonstrating risk of iron supplementation
of breastfed babies with normal hemoglobin - Gail

J Nutr. 2002 Nov;132(11):3249-55.

Iron supplementation affects growth and morbidity of breast-fed infants:
results of a randomized trial in Sweden and Honduras.

Dewey KG, Domellof M, Cohen RJ, Landa Rivera L, Hernell O, Lonnerdal B.
Department of Nutrition and Program in International Nutrition, University
of California, Davis, USA. [log in to unmask]

Iron supplements are often prescribed during infancy but their benefits and
risks have not been well documented. We examined whether iron supplements
affect growth or morbidity of breast-fed infants. Full-term infants in
Sweden (n = 101)and Honduras (n = 131) were randomly assigned to three
groups at 4 mo of age: 1)placebo from 4 to 9 mo; 2) placebo from 4 to 6 mo
and iron supplements [1 mg/(kg. d)] from 6 to 9 mo; or 3) iron supplements
from 4 to 9 mo. All infants were exclusively or nearly exclusively breast-
fed to 6 mo and continued to be breast-fed to at least 9 mo. Growth was
measured monthly and morbidity data were collected every 2 wk. Among the
Swedish infants, gains in length and head circumference were significantly
lower in those who received iron than in those given placebo from 4 to 9
mo. The same effect on length was seen in Honduras, but only at 4-6 mo
among those with initial hemoglobin (Hb) > or =110 g/L. There
was no significant main effect of iron supplementation on morbidity, nor any
significant interaction between iron supplementation and site, but for
diarrhea (with both sites combined), there was an interaction between iron
supplementation and initial Hb. Among infants with Hb < 110 g/L at 4 mo,
diarrhea was less common among those given iron than in those given placebo
from 4-9 mo, whereas the opposite was true among those with Hb > or = 110
g/L (P <0.05). We conclude that routine iron supplementation of breast-fed
infants may benefit those with low Hb but may present risks for those with
normal Hb.

Publication Types:
    Clinical Trial
    Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 12421836 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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