A Longitudinal Study of the Iron and Zinc Intakes of Korean Infants from 1 to 3 Months-Breast-Fed vs Formula-Fed Infants

모유영양아와 인공영양아의 철분과 아연의 섭취상태에 관한 종단적 연구

This study was carried out to longitudinally investigate the iron and zinc intakes and correlation with growth performance of 25 male breast-and formula-fed infants from 1 to 3 months postpartum, longitudinally. There were four groups breast fed(BF) and three formula fed groups((FFM, FFN and FFP). Milk intakes and the concentration of iron and zinc from human milk and the formulas were measured. The iron content of human milk was $2.07\pm{1.05(0.63~5.65)}\mu{g}$/ml. The zinc content was $2.43\pm{1.14(0.70~5.30)}\mu{/ml.}$ Both were not significantly different among postpartum months. The average iron intake of the breast-fed and formula-fed infants was $1.6\pm{0.7mg/}$day and $8.4\pm{2.3mg}$/day, respectively. The iron intake of breast-fed infants was higher than previous reports. And that of formula-fed infants was higher than the RDA. The average zinc intake of the breast-fed group was $1.9\pm{0.9mg/}$day and formula-fed infants' was $2.7\pm{0.7mg/}$day, which was higher than the RDA. There was no correlation between these mineral intakes and the growth performance during 1 to 3 postpartum months. So, extensive studies of the iron content of human milk and wide cross-sectional studies for establishing iron and zinc recommended dietary allowances for infants are needed.