Efficacy of meat and iron-fortified commercial cereal to prevent iron depletion in cow milk-fed infants 6 to 12 months of age: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To determine whether utilization iron from infant cereal and pureed meat was sufficient to prevent iron depletion and/or anaemia in infants 6 to 12 months old fed cow milk (WCM) as their primary milk source. Design: Six-month-old infants were randomized into a treatment group (n=43) receiving iron-fortified infant cereal (10.2 mg iron), pureed meat (0.75-1.7 mg iron) and WCM for six months or a control group (n=54) receiving dietary intervention. Haemoglobin < 110 g/L or ferritin < 10 mu g/L (measured bi-monthly), confirmed in a second blood sample, defined end points. Results: Proportion reaching end-point was similar between the treatment (3/43) and control infants (5/54) (p=0.66). Infants not complying with the protocol were at greater risk of reaching end-point (p=0.0002). Change in haemoglobin and ferritin across age was similar in both groups. Conclusions: Iron deficiency is not a concern in WCM-fed infants after six months of age if iron-containing complementary foods are complementary ingested.