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

Authors :
Cheryl Callen
Ryan Carvalho
Kristen Finn
Kathleen C. Reidy
Lori J. Bechard
Jatinder Bhatia
Source :
Nutrients, Vol 9, Iss 7, p 733 (2017), Nutrients, Nutrients; Volume 9; Issue 7; Pages: 733
Publication Year :
2017
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2017.

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.

Details

ISSN :
20726643
Volume :
9
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Nutrients
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....1346bb705443a99eaeb6b733ce7c6a68