Need for iron supplementation in infants on prolonged breast feeding.

Iron status, as measured by blood counts and indices, serum iron, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin values, was studied longitudinally in 56 infants on prolonged breast feeding, and compared to that of 29 infants receiving cow milk formula prepared at home and of 47 infants receiving a proprietary infant formula. The first two groups received no iron supplementation, whereas the proprietary formula was supplemented with iron. Although breast feeding was found to be sufficient to meet iron needs during the first 6 months of life, supplemental iron would be necessary during the second half of infancy in order to guarantee the optimal iron status.