A Comparative Study of Red Blood Cell Indices and Anemia by Feeding Patterns

Shin, Pill Jin; Bae, Chong Woo; Choi, Yong Mook

Abstract

PURPOSE: Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency in young infants. This study was designed to determine feeding patterns in infants, and determine a correlation between feeding patterns and incidence of anemia.
METHODS
This study was conducted by taking blood tests (hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red cell indices) by venipuncture with the electronic counters from 221 infants aged 9-12 months old, who came to Well Baby Clinics in the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Sacred Heart Hospital for a health check-up. Their mothers answered a questionnaire regarding their feeding patterns.
RESULTS
The 221 infants aged 9-12 months, were divided into three groups, i.e. infants who were exclusively breast-fed(group A=6.8%), those who had been given mixed feeding or breast milk for 2 months and then switched to artificial formula milk(group B=22.6%), and those who had been given artificial formula milk since birth(group C=70.6%). Of the 221 infants, 7 infants(3.2 %) were found to have iron deficiency anemia. Infants with anemia comprised 20.0%(3/15) of group A, significantly more than the 2.0(1/50) of group B and 1.9%(3/156) of group C(P<0.005).
CONCLUSION
The incidence of iron-deficiency anemia was 3.2%, which was lower than previous reports, as 93.2% of the infants studied were from middle-class families. Seven infants with iron deficiency anemia were found to have been insufficiently fed with iron-rich weaning foods. Thus, studying the feeding patterns of infants is highly predictive of their risk for anemia. Therefore, regular blood tests on infants at high risk for anemia is recommended, as well as supplementary feeding of iron-fortified foods.