Abstract
A paucity of data are available on toddlers for the evaluation of optimal strategies of Fe supplementation. In this study, we used a two-tracer stable isotope technique to determine Fe absorption from a 5-mg dose of stable isotopically enriched (57Fe or 58Fe) ferrous sulfate given with cow's milk (CM) compared with the same dose given with apple juice. Ten children (age 13 ± 1 mo, weight 10.8 ± 1.1 kg) who had recently discontinued formula feeding and begun on CM were studied. Red blood cell(RBC) iron incorporation of the isotope was determined 14 d after dosing with57 Fe and 58Fe. Fe absorption was calculated based on the assumption that 90% of absorbed Fe is incorporated into RBC. Absorption of Fe was significantly greater (13.7 ± 6.4%) when given with juice than with milk (5.7 ± 4.0%), p < 0.01 by paired t tests. Fe absorption from the dose given with juice was significantly negatively correlated with serum ferritin (n = 9, r = -0.70,p < 0.05). These results indicate that 1) a small supplement of Fe is better absorbed when given with juice than with CM, and 2) a large variability in Fe absorption exists in healthy 1-y-old infants, which is related to their existing Fe stores.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
Abbreviations
- CM:
-
cow's milk
- RBC:
-
red blood cell
References
Oski FA 1993 Iron deficiency in infancy and childhood. N Engl J Med 329: 190–193
Idjradinata P, Pollitt E 1993 Reversal of developmental delays in iron-deficient anaemic infants treated with iron. Lancet 341: 1–4
Fairweather-Tait SJ 1992 Iron deficiency in infancy; easy to prevent-or is it?. Eur J Clin Nutr 46( suppl 4): S9–S14
Fomon SJ 1993 Iron. In: Fomon SJ (ed) Nutrition of Normal Infants. Mosby-Year Book, St. Louis, pp 239–260
Hurrell RF, Lynch SF, Trinidad TP, Dassenko SA, Cook JD 1989 Iron absorption in humans as influenced by bovine milk proteins. Am J Clin Nutr 49: 546–552
Cook JD, Dassenko SA, Whittaker P 1991 Calcium supplementation: effect on iron absorption. Am J Clin Nutr 53: 106–111
Hallberg L, Rossander-Hulten L, Brune M, Gleerup A 1992 Calcium and iron absorption: mechanism of action and nutritional importance. Eur J Clin Nutr 46: 317–322
Heinrich HC, Gabbe EE, Whang DH, Bender-Gotze C, Shafer KH 1975 Ferrous and hemoglobin-59Fe absorption from supplemented cow milk in infants with normal and depleted iron stores. Z Kinderheilkd 120: 251–258
Lonnerdal B 1991 Iron intake and requirements In: Heird WH (ed) Nutritional Needs of the Six to Twelve Month Old Infant. Carnation Nutrition Education Series, Vol. 2. Raven Press, New York, pp 199–211
Davidsson L, Galan P, Kastenmayer P, Cherouvrier F, Juillerat M, Hercberg S, Hurrell RF 1994 Iron bioavailability studied in infants: the influence of phytic acid and ascorbic acid in infant formulas based on soy isolate. Pediatr Res 36: 816–822
Oski FA, Landaw SA 1980 Inhibition of iron absorption from human milk by baby food. Am J Dis Child 134: 459–460
Abrams SA, Wen J, O'Brien KO, Stuff JE, Liang LK 1994 Application of magnetic sector thermal ionization mass spectrometry to studies of erythrocyte iron incorporation in small children. Biol Mass Spectrom 23: 771–775
Dixon PR, Perrin RE, Rokop DJ, Maeck R, Janecky DR, Banar JP 1993 Measurement of iron isotopes in submicrogram quantities of iron. Anal Chem 65: 2125–2130
Kastenmayer P, Davidsson L, Galan P, Cherouvrier F, Hercberg S, Hurrell RF 1994 A double stable isotope technique for measuring iron absorption in infants. Br J Nutr 71: 411–424
Fairweather-Tait S, Fox T, Wharf SG, Eagles J 1995 The bioavailability of iron in different weaning foods and the enhancing effect of a fruit drink containing ascorbic acid. Pediatr Res 37: 389–394
Stekel A 1984 Iron requirements in infancy and childhood. In: Stekel A (ed) Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series, Vol. 4: Iron Nutrition in Infancy and Childhood. Raven Press, New York, pp 1–7
Dallman PR, Siimes MA, Stekel A 1980 Iron deficiency in infancy and childhood. Am J Clin Nutr 33: 86–118
Knudsen E, Jensen M, Solgaard P, Sorenson SS, Sandstrom 1995 Zinc absorption estimated by fecal monitoring of zinc stable isotopes validated by comparison with whole-body retention of zinc radioisotopes in humans. J Nutr 125: 1274–1282
Eastell R, Vieira NE, Yergey AL, Riggs BL 1989 One-day test using stable isotopes to measure true fractional calcium absorption. J Bone Miner Res 4: 463–468
Moore CV, Dubach R 1951 Observations on the absorption of iron from foods tagged with radioiron. Trans Assoc Am Physicians 64: 245–256
Hallberg L, Brune M, Rossander L 1986 Effect of ascorbic acid on iron absorption from different types of meals. Hum Nutr Appl Nutr 40A: 97–113
Derman DP, Bothwell TH, MacPhail AP, Torrance JD, Bezwoda WR, Charlton RW, Mayet FGH 1980 Importance of ascorbic acid in the absorption of iron from infant foods. Scand J Haematol 25: 193–201
Cook JD, Lipshultz DA, Milkes LEM, Finch CA 1974 Serum ferritin as a measure of iron stores in normal subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 27: 681–687
Fomon SJ, Janghorbani M, Ting BTG, Ziegler EE, Rogers RR, Nelson SE, Ostedgaard LS, Edwards BB 1988 Erythrocyte incorporation of ingested 58-iron by infants. Pediatr Res 24: 20–24
Saarinen UM, Siimes MA, Dallman PR 1977 Iron absorption in infants: High bioavailability of breast milk iron as indicated by the extrinsic tag method of iron absorption and by the concentration of serum ferritin. J Pediatr 91: 36–39
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the nursing staff of the Metabolic Research Unit of the Children's Nutrition Research Center for nursing care of the study subjects, Barbara Kertz for study coordination, and Leslie Loddeke for editorial assistance. Fer-in-Sol used as supplemental Fe was provided courtesy of Mead-Johnson Nutritional Division, Evansville, IN.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work is a publication of the U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA)/Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX. This project has been funded in part with federal funds from the USDA/ARS under Cooperative Agreement number 58-6250-1-003. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the USDA, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Abrams, S., O'brien, K., Wen, J. et al. Absorption by 1-Year-Old Children of an Iron Supplement Given with Cow's Milk or Juice. Pediatr Res 39, 171–175 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199601000-00027
Received:
Accepted:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199601000-00027
This article is cited by
-
Bioavailability of elemental iron powder in white wheat bread
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004)
