Objective: Low iron status is a well known risk factor for iron deficiency anemia in infants and young children. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of an iron-fortified toddler formula on iron status in 1-3 year-olds.
Patients and methods: Thirty-three healthy infants and young children were assigned to two groups that received 500 mL/day of and iron-fortified toddler formula or 500 mL/day of unmodified cow's milk for 4 months. Allocation was random and double-blind. Daily dietary intake was calculated by dietary evaluation, and iron nutritional status was assessed (hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, serum iron, ferritin, and transferrin).
Results: At enrollment, no anemia was found in either group, although hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit were significantly lower in the toddler formula group than in the unmodified cow's milk group. However, these differences disappeared at the end of the intervention period. After 4 months, the toddler formula group showed significantly higher serum ferritin and lower serum transferrin concentrations than the cow's milk group.
Conclusion: Intake of iron-supplemented toddler formula for 4 months in 1-3 year-olds is more effective in maintaining iron nutritional status than cow's milk.