Evaluation of predictive value of transferrin receptor levels in the early identification of iron deficiency in infants

Abstract

This study evaluated growth parameters, dietary intake, and iron status indicators in nine exclusively breastfed and eight exclusively formula fed infants at six months of age to ' investigate the sensitivity of transferrin receptor in detecting early iron deficiency. The formula fed infants took a high~r proportion of total calories (p<0.001) and iron (p<0.001) from cereal than did the breastfed infants. A negative correlation of protein intake per kg of body weight with transferrin receptor levels (p=0.005) was found in the breastfed group. The transferrin receptor was negatively correlated with ferritin in the breastfed group (p=0.034) and positively in the fomula fed group (p=0.038). Ferritin was negatively correlated with hemoglobin (p=0.031) and erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels were positively correlated with length gain per day in the formula fed group (p=0.031 ). One infant in the formula fed group was found to have a-thalassemia and when removed from the analysis negated the correlations of ferritin and transferrin receptor and ferritin and hemoglobin in the formula fed group. The amount of cereal fed was positively correlated with ferritin (p=0.033), and hemoglobin (p=0.047) in the breastfed group. Transferrin receptor was helpful in identifying iron depletion in 33% of the breastfed group. With the exception of the infant with a-thalessemia, the formula fed group was in an iron replete state.