According to the World Health Organization (WHO), iron deficiency anemia in babies is widespread worldwide (1) and mostly affects babies aged nine to 24 months. Just as in adults, iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is defined as an acute low concentration of red blood cells in newborns. Read this post to know the causes and symptoms of IDA in newborns, as well as how to prevent it.
What Is Anemia And What Causes It In Babies?
Anemia is the condition where the infant’s body does not produce enough red blood cells (RBCs), leading to poor circulation of oxygen in the body. The body does not grow healthily and fails to achieve developmental milestones due to the malfunctioning of the oxygen-deprived cells.
Causes of anemia in infants are
There are several kinds of anemia ranging from genetically-caused anemia to the one due to nutrient deficiency. Overall there are almost ten types of anemia. In this post, we focus on iron deficiency anemia in babies.
What Is Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the baby has insufficient dietary iron intake, leading to an inadequate formation of hemoglobin protein. The protein contains iron atoms, which bind to oxygen in the lungs and carry it to different body cells. Poor levels of the protein slow the production of RBCs causing iron deficiency anemia, which is the leading cause of babies and older infants.
What Causes Iron Deficiency In Babies?
Following are the reasons for iron deficiency in babies:
What Are The Symptoms Of Iron Deficiency In Babies?
It is crucial to discern the signs of anemia in babies before they adversely impact the baby’s health. The moment you notice any of these signs and suspect anemia, take your baby to a doctor for an affirmative diagnosis.
How Is Iron Deficiency Anemia In Babies Diagnosed?
Anemia in babies can be detected through any of the following medical tests: If the test is positive for anemia, the doctor lists out the treatment options.
How Is Iron Deficiency Anemia Treated In Babies?
IDA is treated by replenishing the deficit of iron in the body. If the supplement is a powder, you can mix it with baby food such as purees, while Syrups can be given directly. It can take the infant three to six months of treatment to regain normal iron levels. Your baby will appear healthy within weeks of the treatment. It is important to complete the treatment as untreated anemia can lead to critical health problems in babies.
Long Term Effects Of Iron Deficiency Anemia
If IDA is left untreated, the baby can develop the following: As iron deficiency anemia can have a lasting adverse impact on the baby, you need to take measures to prevent the problem. Fortunately, prevention of IDA is not difficult.
How To Prevent Iron Deficiency Anemia In Babies?
Preventing iron deficiency is simple. All you need to do is ensure that the baby is getting the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of iron depending on the age.
Recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of iron in babies (8):
Note: Babies should not have more than 40mg of iron per day until the age of 12 months. The diet for preventing iron deficiency will depend on the infant’s age.
1. Infants younger than six months:
Babies are born with reserves of cellular iron, which last in the bloodstream for six months, while the additional iron requirement is met through breastmilk. The average iron content of breastmilk is 0.35mg per liter, and an average infant has 780ml of breastmilk every day (9). This quantity meets the daily requirement of iron. The iron content in the breast milk depletes in four months, especially if the babies have low birth weight or the mothers are diabetic. Such a situation can lead to anemia in newborns. To cure this, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends an iron supplement of 1mg/kg of the baby’s day per day. However, check with your doctor to get a better understanding. Babies who are formula-fed for six months should have 0.27mg of iron per day. Most iron-fortified infant formulas have 12mg of iron per liter of formula milk. The iron’s bioavailability, which is the actual amount of iron absorbed by the body, from infant formula is less than breastmilk, which explains the higher concentration of iron in formulas. Nevertheless, The American Academy of Pediatrics says that 12mg of iron per liter of formula is safe for babies.
2. Infants older than six months:
An infant older than six months has wider choices for iron intake as he has solid food. Meat is the best source of iron since it is rich in heme iron, which is readily absorbed by the body. You can combine meat with an iron-rich vegetable such as beans for maximum iron absorption. Iron-fortified baby cereal is an ideal nutrient source, especially for vegetarians, as it contains 18mg of iron. Cereals may also contain added vitamins such as C, which helps in the absorption of nonheme iron. If you intend to give formula as a supplemental food, then make sure you balance the quantity with other iron-rich foods.
3. Premature infants:
Breastmilk is not sufficient for preterm infants, and they need daily iron supplements of 2mg/kg per day until 12 months. Preterm infants can also be given higher concentration of iron at 14.6mg per liter. All iron-related nutrition in premature babies should be decided by a medical professional.
