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Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 1988 34(3):100-103; doi:10.1093/tropej/34.3.100-a
© 1988 by Oxford University Press
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Iron Deficiency is Uncommon in Healthy Hong Kong Infants at 18 Months

S. S. F. Leung, MBBS, DCH, MRCP*, D. P. Davies, BSc, MD, DObst, DCH, FRCP*, S. Lui, MA, RD, L. Lo, RN*, P. Yuen, MD, FRCP* and R. Swaminathan, MBBS, MSc, PhD, MRCP, FRCPA**

* Department of Paediatrics Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong
** Department of Chemical Pathology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong

The iron status of about one hundred and fifty principally bottle-fed Hong Kong Chinese babies was investigated by means of a longitudinal study of iron intake from birth to 18 months in relation to haemoglobin, MCV, and serum ferritm. Mean (SD) daily iron intakes at 6, 12, and 18 months were 8 (5), 9 (3), and 8 (3)mg, respectively, comfortably within the WHO recommended dietary allowance of 5–10 mg. The mean (SD) haemoglobin concentration in 123 babies who had it determined at 18 months was12.4 mg/dl (0.89). Eleven had a haemoglobin concentration < 11 g/dl. Of these, seven had ß-thalassaemia trait, two showed a satisfactory response to iron therapy (2 mg/kg/day) for 3 months, one had an unchanged haemoglobin, and one defaulted further follow up. Three of 112 babies with Hb > llg/dl had an MCV <70fl. Mean (SD) serum ferritin at 18 months in 128 infants was 155.9 (24.8)ng/ml. Only one had a concentration < 7 ng/ml.

This very low ({bsim} 2 per cent excluding ß-thalassaemia trait) incidence of iron deficiency is attributed to infant feeding practices which provide:

  1. an adequate iron intake during the weaning period from milk formulae, iron-fortified cereals, meat and fish; and
  2. a negligible consumption of pasteurized cow's milk with its low iron content and risk of causing occult Intestinal blood loss.


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