Prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in infancy and related factors in a community of the Murcia region

: In this study of 98 children, we determined hematological values and serum iron concentrations. A nutritional investigation was also done. We found that 25.5% of the children were iron deficient and 12.2% were anemic. In the group of children with iron deficiency, the introduction of meat and cereals was significantly late (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05, respectively). In this same group of children the introduction of whole cow milk was earlier, although not significant (NS). The age of maximal prevalence was between 13 and 24 months. These results indicate a need to screen for iron deficiency during the second year of life, to delay the introduction of whole cow milk and not to delay the introduction of meat and cereals.