Does Your Child Need More Iron?

7/19/2007

Every body needs enough iron. This essential mineral is necessary to make the proteins that carry oxygen to every cell in the body. A body that doesn't get enough iron from food or supplements loses energy and doesn’t work efficiently.

If your child is tired all the time, feels weak or dizzy, has pale skin and nails, lacks appetite, catches every cold and flu around, complains of abdominal pain, or craves nonfoods like ice or dirt (pica), iron deficiency might be the problem.

Iron deficiency is one of the most common conditions in childhood. There are several stages in a child's life when it’s more likely to occur.

• Infancy: Newborns come equipped with a four to six-month store of iron. Iron isn’t passed on in breast milk, so a breast-fed baby should be given liquid iron-fortified vitamins (usually in combination with vitamins A and D) beginning at about four months of age.
  
  Formula-fed babies begin iron-supplemented formulas immediately after birth. This is often further supplemented in a newborn who leaves the hospital slightly anemic or iron-deficient. Most babies adjust quickly to the iron-fortified formulas without any constipation.
  
  It is important not to give cow’s milk to babies until they are at least a year old. Cow’s milk was once commonly fed to infants, but it was discovered in the late 1970s that the milk caused microscopic bleeding in the stomach and upper gastrointestinal tract that led to anemia. A connection between early introduction of cow's milk and learning disabilities was also discovered.
  
  
  Pregnant and breast-feeding moms should make sure they get enough iron too. Talk to your doctor about your iron requirements at this time.
• Ages 1-6: Iron deficiency in this age group is usually due to the combination of rapid growth rates and poor dietary intake of iron. This is a time to focus on getting easily-absorbed iron-rich foods into your kids.
• Teens: Like toddlers, teens are in a period of fast growth and poor food choices. In addition, girls who are menstruating are also at risk of iron deficiency related to monthly blood loss monthly.

All sources of iron are not equal There are two forms of iron in food, heme and nonheme. Heme iron—found primarily in meat, fish, and poultry--is much more easily absorbed by the body than the nonheme iron found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and dried beans. That’s why vegetarians and vegans may have to take extra steps to maximize their iron intake.

Three ways to get more iron from a nonheme food are by:

• Eating it with a food high in vitamin C such as oranges, strawberries, or broccoli.
• Eating it with a small amount of meat, fish, or poultry.
• Cooking it in an iron pot or pan.

Some foods can block your absorption of iron. Don't drink dark teas with your meals, and avoid taking calcium and iron supplements at the same time.