http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/92/10/850?etoc

I can only see the abstract of this study, and the full paper might 
reveal more (as ever).

But I am curious. The results show that babies of 6-12 mths who 
have > 6 breastfeeds a day are more likely to be anaemic or to have 
low iron status (according to WHO references).  '41% of infants 
having >6 breast feeds per day had iron intakes below the lower 
reference nutrient intake'

Now this is puzzling.  More than 6 breastfeeds a day in an infant of 
this age is perfectly normal and left unimpeded and unscheduled, many 
infants of 6-12 mths might have considerably more than this. It would 
also be normal for this to be alongside solid foods, of course. I 
can't see from the abstract if the breastfed babies with adequate 
intakes of solid food have been looked at and differentiated from 
those whose intakes are inadequate, and  how this would be defined 
(though the abstract does talk about more breastfeeding being 
associated with fewer solids, which probably figures).

I do wonder if the WHO reference is set a bit too high?

The babies were a large observed cohort in the West of England - it's 
part of the well-known ALSPAC study.

Comments?

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

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