The mother's iron status has very little effect on the iron content of
breast milk. Several studies attempting to increase it by supplementing the
mother have failed to have much effect, even among iron deficient mothers.

Remember that iron is not only good for people, it also makes bacteria and
parasites happy and fast-growing. There are other potential problems with
high iron levels as well. Thus nature, as always, was "wise" to keep levels
low in breast milk and not to let them rise even if the mother's do.
Ted Greiner, PhD
Senior Lecturer in International Nutrition
Unit for International Child Health, Entrance 11
Uppsala University
75185 Uppsala
Sweden

phone +46 - 18 511598
fax   +46 - 18 515380

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