72 EFFECT OF RICE CEREAL FORTIFIED WITH ELECTROLYTIC IRON ON INFANT IRON STATUS

To determine whether cereal fortified with electrolytic iron contributes to infant iron nutrition, 3 groups of 100 spontaneously weaned infants (SW) were randomly assigned at 4 mo to 1) formula w/o Fe but cereal w/Fe (45 mg/100g). 2) formula and cereal w/o Fe (negative control) and 3) formula w/Fe (12 mg/lt of FeSO4) and cereal w/o Fe (positive control). Additionally, 200 breast fed (BF) infants were randomized to 4) cereal w/Fe or 5) cereal w/o Fe. The targeted cereal consumption of 24-30 g/day was reached at 5-7 mo. At 8 and 12 mo groups 1 & 3 showed significantly better iron status than the negative control (group 2), with no difference between 1 and 3.