Longitudinal study of diet and iron deficiency anaemia in infants during the first two years of life

The objectives of this study were: (i) to investigate the energy, iron, zinc, calcium and vitamin C intakes of a group of healthy term Caucasian infants resident in Dunedin, New Zealand, prospectively from age 9 months to 2 years; and (ii) to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among these infants. A self-selected sample of 74 Caucasian mothers and their infants born in Dunedin, New Zealand, between October 1995 and May 1996 were recruited. Dietary intake was determined using estimated diet records at 9, 12, 18 and 24 months of age. Haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume and zinc protoporphyrin concentration were determined at the same ages. The infants' zinc, calcium and vitamin C intakes appeared adequate. Their median iron intakes ranged from 4.3 mg (at 12 months) to 7.0 mg (at 9 months) per day and were below estimated requirements at all ages. At 9, 12 and 18 months of age, 7% ( n = 4) of the infants had iron deficiency anaemia. None of the infants had iron deficiency anaemia at 24 months. The iron intakes of this group of Caucasian infants and young children appeared inadequate. However, their rate of iron deficiency anaemia was lower than has been reported in previous New Zealand studies.