Nutrition Iron deficiency supplementation

Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in children. The global prevalence of anemia in ۲۰۱۰ was ۳۲.۹ percent, with the highest burden in children less than ۵ years of age. Iron deficiency is defined with a serum ferritin of less than ۱۵ microgram/L. Iron requirements for breastfed infants or whom are formula fed with an appropriate iron-fortified infant formula are as following: Full term Infants: ۱ mg/kg daily (maximum ۱۵ mg) starting from ۴ to ۶ months continuing until the infant is taking sufficient quantities of iron-rich complementary foods, Premature Infants: ۲ to ۴ mg/kg daily (maximum ۱۵ mg) starting from ۲ to ۴ weeks continuing through the first year of life, ۱ to ۳ years old: ۷ mg daily, ۴ to ۸ years old: ۱۰ mg daily and ۹ to ۱۳ years old: ۸ mg daily. For infants and children in high-risk populations (prevalence of anemia ۴۰ percent), daily iron supplementation is recommended. Supplements should not be given to children who lack access to malaria-prevention strategies, because they may increase susceptibility to malaria. For preschool- and school-aged children in moderate-risk populations (prevalence of anemia ۲۰ to ۴۰ percent), Intermittent iron supplementation (one supplement/week, in three-month cycles) is recommended. Other general dietary measures which are essential: Iron fortification of formula is necessary in formula fed infants. At age six months, encouraging one feeding per day of foods rich in vitamin C and after age six months, or when developmentally ready, considering introduction of pureed meats is recommended. For all infants (۱۲ months), avoiding feeding unmodified (nonformula) cow's milk or goat's milk, and for children aged one to five years, limiting cow's milk consumption to no more than ۲۰ oz (۶۰۰ mL) per day and encouraging at least three servings per day of iron-containing foods is beneficial. Moreover, children who eat less than this target usually have suboptimal iron intake and may benefit from an iron supplement. In this presentation, we aim to discuss about the prevention methods and supplementation alternatives for iron deficiency, as one of the most crucial and curable nutritional deficiencies in children.