ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of early nonionic
iron supplementation in preterm infants. Infants with gestational age ≤ 32 weeks who
were fed enriched human milk were assigned concurrently to receive 5 mg/kg/d enteral
iron polymaltose complex (IPC) at 2 or 4 weeks of age. The levels of hemoglobin, reticulocytes,
serum iron, ferritin, and soluble transferrin receptor were recorded at 2, 4, and
8 weeks of age. The incidence of morbidities associated with prematurity and the need
for red blood cell transfusions (RBCTs) were recorded. The 2-week group (n = 32) had
a better iron status than the 4-week group (n = 36) at 4 weeks and at 8 weeks of age.
The incidence of morbidities associated with prematurity was not different among the
groups (p = 0.26). RBCT was required in one infants of the 2-week group and in 10 infants in
the 4-week group (p = 0.045). The number needed to treat to prevent one RBCT was five. Supplementation
of 5 mg/kg/d enteral IPC to preterm infants fed enriched human milk as early as 2
weeks of age was more beneficial to iron status than at 4 weeks of age, and was associated
with decreased need for RBCTs and no increase in the incidence of morbidities associated
with prematurity.
KEYWORDS
Preterm infants - iron supplementation - morbidities associated with prematurity -
iron polymaltose complex
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Shmuel ArnonM.D.
Department of Neonatology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba
44281, Israel
