The Conservation of Blood Iron during the Period of Physiological Hemoglobin Destruction in Early Infancy

Abstract

Alterations of cell volume, erythrocytes, hemoglobin and blood iron of infants under 2 months of age were studied in relation to the excretion of iron during this period. Blood iron reached its minimal value between 4 and 6 weeks of age. The iron excretion of each infant studied during the period of decreasing blood iron was always greater than the intake. This loss of iron from the body continued for some time after the minimal blood iron was reached. The average daily loss was 1.25 mg., the estimated total loss for the period, from 50 to 75 mg. The one prematurely born infant studied showed as great a loss of iron from the body as did the fullterm infants, who presumably had a much larger quantity of excess hemoglobin. It is concluded that a dietary source of iron is desirable well before 6 months of age.