CORRECTION OF IRON-DEFICIENCY WITH AN IRON-FORTIFIED FLUID WHOLE COWSMILK IN CHILDREN - RESULTS OF A PILOT-STUDY

Purpose: This study assesses the efficacy of an iron-fortified (15 mg Fe, as stabilized ferrous sulfate (SFE-171), per liter) fluid whole co w's milk (IFFWCM) for the treatment of mild iron deficiency in childre n. Previous studies in healthy adult volunteers showed a mean 10.2 +/- 4.7% iron absorption. Patients and Methods: Seventeen children (12 to 48 months old) with iron deficiency (serum iron (SI) <60 mu g/dl, tra nsferrin saturation (TS) <15% serum ferritin (SF) <15 ng/ml) were incl uded in this study; 11 of them were anemic. As treatment, they receive d IFFWCM, instead of the customary, whole cow's milk, for at least 4 m onths: medicinal iron was not administered. Hematocrit (Hct), hemoglob in (Hb), SI, TS, and SF were determined monthly. Results: The Hb incre ased from 10.3 +/- 0.8 to 12.7 +/- 0.6 g/dl in the group with anemia ( Delta(F-B): 2.3 +/- 1.0 g/dl) and from 12.6 +/- 0.7 to 13.5 +/- 0.3 g/ dl in the group without anemia (Delta(F-B): 0.9 +/- 0.5 g/dl); the dif ference between both groups was significant (p < 0.01); the rate for H er values showed a similar pattern. In the whole group, the SI increas ed to 84.8 +/- 37.4 mu g/dl, with no difference between children with anemia and children without anemia: TS showed a similar pattern (Delta (F-B): 19.0 +/- 11.0%) The mean SF increased from 12.1 +/- 2.7 ng/ml t o 27.9 +/- 25.4 ng/ml. Normal values for Hct, Hb, SI, and TS were reac hed by 100% of children; the rate for SF was 56.3%. Time required to r each normal Her in the children with anemia was 59.4 +/- 33.0 days. Ac ceptance and tolerance were excellent: no treatment had to be disconti nued. The group of patients with anemia was compared with an historica l group composed of 55 children matched for age, basal Hct, and achiev ed Hct increase, treated with medicinal FS (4-6 mg/kg/day): time requi red to reach normal Hct was shorter in the FS-treated group (39.0 +/- 14.5 days) (p = 0.050). Conclusion: The use of IFFWCM alone could be a n effective, relatively inexpensive, and well-tolerated treatment of i ron deficiency in children.