PEDIATRICS Vol. 47 No. 4 April 1971, pp. 786
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Filer, L. J.
Right arrow Articles by Kline, O. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Filer, L. J., Jr.
Right arrow Articles by Kline, O. L.

IRON-FORTIFIED FORMULAS

L. J. Filer Jr. M.D., Lewis A. Barness M.D., Richard B. Goldbloom M.D., Malcolm A. Holliday M.D., Robert W. Miller M.D., Donough O'Brien M.D., Howard A. Pearson M.D., Charles R. Scriver M.D., William B. Weil Jr. M.D., Charles F. Whitten M.D., Joaquin Cravioto M.D., M.P.H., and O. L. Kline Ph.D.

In its recent statement on iron,1 the Committee on Nutrition emphasized the value of iron-fortified, proprietary milk formulas for the prevention of iron-deficiency anemia of infancy. Despite this recommendation, the most recent marketing information available to the Committee shows that more than 70% of the proprietary formulas currently prescribed by physicians do not contain added iron.

The reasons for continuing routine use of formulas not fortified with iron are not entirely clear. One reason may be that some physicians still believe iron additives increase the incidence of feeding problems or gastrointestinal disturbances. There is no documented evidence that this is a significant problem.

The Committee strongly recommends when proprietary formulas are prescribed that iron-supplemented formulas be used routinely as the standard–that is, that this be the rule rather than the exception. There seems to be little justification for continued general use of proprietary formulas not fortified with iron. The Committee is fully aware that only a small percentage of American infants are fed proprietary formulas after 6 months of age. Fluid whole milk (available in bottle or carton ) or evaporated milk, both of which contain only trace amounts of iron, are substituted at the time of greatest iron need and highest prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia. The infant's diet is usually deficient in iron, unless other foods are carefully selected to insure adequate iron intake.

Since the major dietary component during infancy is milk, two courses of action should be taken:

(1) Pediatricians and other health professionals should engage in a program of public education to convince American mothers to provide their infants with a source of dietary iron.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 PediatricsHome page
B. Sherry, Z. Mei, and R. Yip
Continuation of the Decline in Prevalence of Anemia in Low-Income Infants and Children in Five States
Pediatrics, April 1, 2001; 107(4): 677 - 682.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Nutr.Home page
S. J. Fomon
Infant Feeding in the 20th Century: Formula and Beikost
J. Nutr., February 1, 2001; 131(2): 409S - 420.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
J. A. Taylor and A. B. Bergman
Iron-fortified Formulas: Pediatricians' Prescribing Practices
Clinical Pediatrics, February 1, 1989; 28(2): 73 - 75.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
J. M. Rees, E. R. Monsen, and J. E. Merrill
Iron Fortification of Infant Foods: A Decade of Change
Clinical Pediatrics, December 1, 1985; 24(12): 707 - 710.
[Abstract] [PDF]