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Iron supplements markedly reduce iron insufficiency in premature neonates. However, the optimal strategy may vary based on gestational age and birth weight.
In a recent study published in “BMC Pediatrics”, iron supplements successfully mitigated iron deficiency in preterm infants, with 2–4 mg/kg/day being the effective dosage. Iron deficiency is a major nutritional concern for premature babies, impacting their growth and development. Effective iron supplementation is crucial for promoting both physical and neurological development in these infants. Hence, Sufeng Ruan and other investigators sought to figure out the effect of postnatal iron use on infants born prematurely.
This prospective study involved 177 preterm infants divided into early (<34 weeks) and late (34- 37 weeks) preterm groups. Researchers compared the occurrence of iron shortage, iron status, and growth among neonates receiving daily iron supplements of 2–4 mg/kg. As found, iron supplementation markedly reduced iron deficiency across both groups. At 3 months corrected gestational age, iron deficiency rates were 11.3% in early preterm and 5.1% in late preterm infants, decreasing to 5.3% and 6.3% respectively at 6 months.
By 12 months, no iron inadequacy was witnessed. Ferritin levels were notably lower in early preterm infants (36.87 ± 31.57 ng/ml) compared to late preterm infants (65.78 ± 75.76 ng/ml) at 3 months. A multifactorial regression assessment in preterm babies showed a positive link between log10 hepcidin, birth weight, and ferritin, with elevated birth weights linked with increased ferritin levels.
Therefore, standard iron supplementation efficiently combats iron deficiency in early-born infants. However, a tailored supplementation approach considering gestational age and birth weight might be more effective. Additional investigation with larger sample sizes is needed to scrutinize the mechanisms behind varying iron levels in early versus late preterm infants.
BMC Pediatrics
The effect of iron supplementation in preterm infants at different gestational ages
Sufeng Ruan et al.
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