My quick skim of this statement a few days ago raised my antennae - 1) the
statement is at odds with the AAP's own statement on breastfeeding/use of
human milk; 2) there's no acknowledgment (or perhaps there's a major
knowledge deficit on committee members' parts) of the increased
bioavailability of the iron in human milk; 3) it wasn't clear what type of
variables were used to screen infants in the research reports used to come
up with this recommendation; 4) it's fairly easy to screen for
iron-sufficiency and possible deficiency can be referred for more conclusive
testing; 5) a formula company makes most of the vitamin/mineral
supplements for infants prescribed by a large number (the majority) of USA
pediatricians. (BTW, these liquids also include unnecessary preservatives,
flavorings, etc.)

Why in the world would I want to give an iron supplement to my baby or
suggest another mother do likewise -- and possibly interfere with the job of
the lactoferrin in mom's milk (
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1626933/pdf/archdisch00780-0009.pdf)
-- without lab evidence of a deficiency? This rec does not make sense to me
and my cynicism re: AAP and relationship with formula companies raises lots
of uncomfortable questions...

Karen Gromada
www.karengromada.com/



> From:    "Jessica L. Callahan" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: AAP iron supplements
>
> AAP issuesed a new recommendation regarding iron last week. Breastfeed
> children should have an iron supplement starting at 4 months of age. Here is
> a link http://www.aap.org/pressroom/Ironfinal.pdf
>
> Just thought i would share
>
> Jessica=20
> RN, IBCLC
> NC, USA
>
>             ***********************************************
>
>

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