Long-term breastfeeding has been found to increase iron deficiency in babies, according to a new study.
The study, published in the April 15 online issue of Pediatrics, explored an association between how long moms nursed and the iron stores, iron deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia in their children.
Researchers analyzed data on 1,647 healthy kids ages 1 to 6 (with a median age of 3) from December 2008 to July 2011. They had asked moms to fill out questionnaires about nursing duration, and blood was taken from the children to determine iron stores.
Nearly all the kids had been breastfed, either exclusively or along with other fluids or foods, for about ten months. Twenty-seven percent of the children had been breastfed for more than a year.
The results showed overall about 9 percent of the kids were iron-deficient. What's more, the longer the babies had been nursed, the more likely they were to have iron deficiency: Children who had been breastfed for 12 months or more were 70 percent more likely to be iron-deficient than children breastfed for less than a year.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months, and continuing along with the introduction of solids until at least 12 months. The AAP also endorses extended breastfeeding if it works for both mom and baby. The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend babies be breastfed for two years or more.
Note: More research is needed — especially with the cited conflict of interest: As reported in the Washington Post, one of the study authors had accepted fees from several pharmaceutical companies that make iron supplements. In the meantime, know that iron is in breast milk, and that it is more easily absorbed than the iron in formula, says the Mayo Clinic.
There are no set guidelines for iron deficiency anemia screenings. Ask your pediatrician about his or her recommendations — especially if you're concerned about iron deficiency.
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