How to supplement for infant iron deficiency anemia
Disease description:
The doctor diagnosed the baby with iron deficiency anemia. Neither the baby's father nor I have experienced this condition before, and we don't know much about it. I would like to ask, if an infant has iron deficiency anemia, what is the best way to supplement iron?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
Iron-deficiency anemia in infants is mainly caused by insufficient iron intake or poor absorption. The following approaches are primarily used for iron supplementation in infants with iron-deficiency anemia:
1. Iron supplementation: Select iron supplements suitable for infants, such as oral iron dextran liquid or ferrous succinate oral solution. At the same time, ensure adequate vitamin C intake to enhance intestinal absorption of iron. If oral iron supplements are not well tolerated or prove ineffective, parenteral iron administration may be considered.
2. Dietary adjustment: For infants older than 6 months who have started complementary feeding, iron-fortified rice cereal, egg yolk, and other iron-rich foods can be selected. For infants older than 1 year, moderate amounts of animal-based foods such as pork, beef, lamb, pork liver, and chicken liver may also be added to the diet, as these foods are rich in iron and are easily absorbed by the body.
3. Dietary adjustment for breastfeeding mothers: If the infant is still being breastfed, mothers can increase their intake of iron-rich foods such as pork, leafy green vegetables, and soy products to enhance the iron content of breast milk, thereby helping the infant obtain sufficient iron.
