Follow-on con leads to impaired development

[onthefly]

Not sure if this has been posted before (?), but thought it might be useful to those using formula and considering moving on to 'step 2' products. These findings are based on US products so might be a bit different here, not sure, but still may have some relevance when considering whether your baby really needs the extra iron fortification.

Ask The Armadillo - follow on formula con leads to impaired development

Betsy Lozoff, M.D explored long-term developmental outcomes after ten years for infants who were given iron-fortified formula. In a randomised controlled trial they followed up 473 children after ten years. Between 6-9 months of age 244 were in the iron-fortified group and 229 in the low-iron group

Researchers gathered data on their IQ, arithmetic skills, VMI (visual-motor integration), motor functioning, visual perception and spatial memory.

At the age of ten the researchers detected no significant differences in the iron status in the children of both groups. 4.1% (9) of the infants and 6.9% (17) of the ten-year-olds were diagnosed with iron deficiency in the iron-fortified group.

The children in the iron-fortified group scored lower in every outcome measured at ten years, with statistically significantly lower scores in spatial memory and VMI, compared to those in the non-iron group. They showed suggestive trends that did not reach statistical significance in arithmetic skills, motor coordination, visual perception and IQ.

Furthermore:

The lowest ten year follow-up scores were found among the infants with the highest hemoglobin scores who had been given iron-fortified formula. However, the highest scores were among the iron-fortified formula infants whose hemoglobin levels at six months of age were the lowest.

The authors wrote:

"In conclusion, this study indicates poorer long-term developmental outcome in infants with high hemoglobin concentrations who received formula fortified with iron at levels currently used in the United States. Optimal amounts of iron in infant formula warrant further study."
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med -- Abstract: Iron-Fortified vs Low-Iron Infant Formula: Developmental Outcome at 10 Years, November 7, 2011, Lozoff et al. 0 (2011): archpediatrics.2011.197v1

[beckoes]

interesting.