Benefits and Risks of Early Life Iron Supplementation
Infants are frequently supplemented with iron to prevent iron deficiency, but iron supplements may have adverse effects on infant health. Although iron supplements can be highly effective at improving iron status and preventing iron deficiency anemia, iron may adversely affect growth and development...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/20/4380 |
| _version_ | 1797470581724020736 |
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| author | Shasta A. McMillen Richard Dean Eileen Dihardja Peng Ji Bo Lönnerdal |
| author_facet | Shasta A. McMillen Richard Dean Eileen Dihardja Peng Ji Bo Lönnerdal |
| author_sort | Shasta A. McMillen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Infants are frequently supplemented with iron to prevent iron deficiency, but iron supplements may have adverse effects on infant health. Although iron supplements can be highly effective at improving iron status and preventing iron deficiency anemia, iron may adversely affect growth and development, and may increase risk for certain infections. Several reviews exist in this area; however, none has fully summarized all reported outcomes of iron supplementation during infancy. In this review, we summarize the risks and benefits of iron supplementation as they have been reported in controlled studies and in relevant animal models. Additionally, we discuss the mechanisms that may underly beneficial and adverse effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:38:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-05f2ed473fe04db997da34323b31f679 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:38:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-05f2ed473fe04db997da34323b31f6792023-11-24T01:45:40ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-10-011420438010.3390/nu14204380Benefits and Risks of Early Life Iron SupplementationShasta A. McMillen0Richard Dean1Eileen Dihardja2Peng Ji3Bo Lönnerdal4Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USAInfants are frequently supplemented with iron to prevent iron deficiency, but iron supplements may have adverse effects on infant health. Although iron supplements can be highly effective at improving iron status and preventing iron deficiency anemia, iron may adversely affect growth and development, and may increase risk for certain infections. Several reviews exist in this area; however, none has fully summarized all reported outcomes of iron supplementation during infancy. In this review, we summarize the risks and benefits of iron supplementation as they have been reported in controlled studies and in relevant animal models. Additionally, we discuss the mechanisms that may underly beneficial and adverse effects.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/20/4380infant nutritioniron supplementiron deficiency anemiagrowthneurodevelopmentoxidative stress |
| spellingShingle | Shasta A. McMillen Richard Dean Eileen Dihardja Peng Ji Bo Lönnerdal Benefits and Risks of Early Life Iron Supplementation Nutrients infant nutrition iron supplement iron deficiency anemia growth neurodevelopment oxidative stress |
| title | Benefits and Risks of Early Life Iron Supplementation |
| title_full | Benefits and Risks of Early Life Iron Supplementation |
| title_fullStr | Benefits and Risks of Early Life Iron Supplementation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Benefits and Risks of Early Life Iron Supplementation |
| title_short | Benefits and Risks of Early Life Iron Supplementation |
| title_sort | benefits and risks of early life iron supplementation |
| topic | infant nutrition iron supplement iron deficiency anemia growth neurodevelopment oxidative stress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/20/4380 |
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