Iron Deficiency: Is Your Child at Risk?

By: Sanjay Shah, M.D.

Iron is an important component of all body cells including red blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to all of the parts of the body.  Iron forms an important part of muscle proteins too. 

We are born with one-tenth of the total iron stored in an adult body.  To make up for this big difference, we must absorb 1 mg of iron everyday from our diet.  To absorb 1 mg of iron we must ingest 10 mg of iron everyday.

Breast milk has a small amount of iron that is very efficiently absorbed, so a breast-fed infant does not require supplementation until 6-9 months of age.  In contrast, babies who are on formula need an extra amount of iron, therefore most of the formulas have added iron.  Low-iron formula is not a good choice of formula.

After the first four months, infants need extra iron containing solids like baby cereals to continue to get iron.  Infants who are premature or low birth weight need supplemental iron sooner.

The second year of life is the highest risk period for development of iron deficiency.  When parents switch their infants to whole milk, they should make sure to limit whole milk to 24 oz. a day.  Diet at this time should especially include iron-rich cereals (like Cheerios or Corn Flakes) and table foods such as green beans, peas, or iron-fortified breads.  Meats are an excellent source of iron too.  Parents should limit juices to 4-6 oz. a day as juices do not have any iron in them.

Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency in a toddler are irritability and fussiness, decreased appetite, craving for unusual substances such as ice or dirt, and anemia.  Surprisingly, a child with iron deficiency may look otherwise healthy and may even be overweight.  Symptoms don’t occur until deficiency is quite severe. 

Teenage girls and boys are at risk for iron deficiency too.  Especially adolescent girls with poor diet or heavy menstrual bleeding and girls who are very athletically active are at increased risk.