Screening and prevention of nutritional anemia during infancy. A prospective study of food fortification.

No important differences in hemoglobin and hematocrit values occurred among subgroups of a cohort of 295 healthy, mature infants who were fed various dietry regimens of iron-fortified products, including cereal, whole milk, and corn syrup. Among all infants between the ages of 4 and 27 months, the incidence of hematocrit readings and hemoglobin levels below 30% and 10 g/dl, respectively, was 0.6%, and below 33% and 11 g/dl, respectively, was 3.2%. Because of the low incidence of nutritional anemia after age 4 months, initial screening should be done at 1 to 4 months of age, and selectively thereafter. A formula of evaporated milk and corn syrum plus iron-fortified cereal during early months, then whole milk and a more diversified diet including continued use of iron-fortified cereal during later months of infancy, provides a nutritionally sound and economical diet with sufficient iron.