Importance of Dietary Sources of Iron in Infants and Toddlers: Lessons from the FITS Study

Abstract

Iron deficiency (ID) affects 13.5% of 1–2 years old children in the US and may have a negative impact on neurodevelopment and behavior. Iron-fortified infant cereal is the primary non-heme iron source among infants aged 6–11.9 months. The objective of this study was to compare iron intakes of infant cereal users with non-users. Data from the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study 2008 were used for this analysis. Based on a 24-h recall, children between the ages of 4–17.9 months were classified as ‘cereal users’ if they consumed any amount or type of infant cereal and ‘non-users’ if they did not. Infant cereal was the top source of dietary iron among infants aged 6–11.9 months. The majority of infants (74.6%) aged 6–8.9 months consumed infant cereal, but this declined to 51.5% between 9–11.9 months and 14.8% among 12–17.9 months old toddlers. Infant cereal users consumed significantly more iron than non-users across all age groups. Infants and toddlers who consume infant cereal have higher iron intakes compared to non-users. Given the high prevalence of ID, the appropriate use of infant cereals in a balanced diet should be encouraged to reduce the incidence of ID and ID anemia.

WIC and non-WIC Infants and Children Differ in Usage of Some WIC-Provided Foods

“…Iron is a critical nutrient for infants and young children, and iron-fortified infant cereals, iron-fortified formula (for formula-fed infants), and iron-rich meats are important sources. FITS 2008 showed that infant cereal was the top food source of iron and 9 other vitamins and minerals for 6- to11.9-mo-olds ( 17 ). Among those infants who did not consume infant cereal, a substantial proportion (30–40%) had iron intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement compared with those infants who ate infant cereal (<8%).…”

The Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) 2016: Moving Forward

“…Among older infants, fewer consumed iron-fortified baby cereal and iron-fortified formula ( 10 ) than reported in FITS 2008 ( 17 ). At the same time, few infants were fed iron-rich puréed baby meats.…”

Iron Supplementation during Pregnancy and Infancy: Uncertainties and Implications for Research and Policy

“…Some suggest that during human evolutionary history this additional dietary iron may have come from pre-mastication of meat, a source of highly bioavailable heme iron [ 24 ]. Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics encourages early introduction of pureed meat as a highly bioavailable source of heme iron [ 25 ], but intakes of meat by infants are low in the United States [ 26 ]. Canadian and Australian health authorities also recommend iron-rich complementary foods including meat ( Table 2 ).…”