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Title: Fe deficiency but not anemia up-regulates Fe absorption in breast-fed Peruvian infants

Author
item HICKS, PENNI - UNIV CALIFORNIA - DAVIS
item ZAVALETA, NELLY - INST INVST NUTR-LIMA,PERU
item Abrams, Steven
item LONNERDAL, BO - UNIV CALIFORNIA - DAVIS

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2005
Publication Date: 4/4/2005
Citation: Hicks, P.D., Zavaleta, N., Abrams, S., Lonnerdal, B. 2005. Fe deficiency but not anemia up-regulates iron Fe absorption in breast-fed Peruvian infants [abstract]. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 19(5):A1481.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Little is known about homeostatic regulation of iron (Fe) absorption in infants. Using stable isotopes, we evaluated healthy breast-fed Peruvian infants to determine if they can compensate for their poor Fe status by increasing Fe absorption (abs). Two groups were recruited; Group 1 (G1) consisted of infants 5-6 mo (n=20) and Group 2 (G2) of infants 9-10 mo (n=19). Maternal breast milk (60 mL) was equilibrated with 150 ug of 58Fe for 18 h prior to being fed to the infant. The next day, a reference dose of 2 mg 57Fe sulfate was given (All values are Mean ± SE). 57Fe abs values were: G1 = 19.2 ± 2.1%, G2 = 25.2 ± 2.6% (p = 0.19). 58Fe abs values were: G1= 38.8 ± 2.2%, G2 = 46.5 ± 2.1% (p = 0.44). G1 was divided into infants with Hb < 105 g/L and those with > 105 g/L; G2 into those with Hb < 100 g/L and those with > 100 g/L. There was no significant difference in Fe abs between anemic and non-anemic infants. Using log-transformed values, 57Fe abs and 58Fe abs were each inversely correlated to serum ferritin (S-Ft), 57Fe: r = -0.61, p = < 0.001; 58Fe: r = -0.44, p < 0.01. For the reference dose, infants with S-Ft < 15mg/L, 57Fe abs = 31.6 ± 3.2 and for S-Ft >15 mg/L, 57Fe abs = 14.8 ± 2.8, p < 0.01. For breast milk dose, S-Ft < 15 mg/L, 58Fe abs = 51.9 ± 7.0% and for S-Ft > 15mg/L, 58Fe abs = 36.5 ± 6.1%, p = 0.13. We hypothesize that infants in an at-risk population for Fe deficiency maximize Fe abs by 6 mo based on Fe status, but not Hb level. Fe abs from breast milk is less closely regulated than reference dose Fe absorption.