Table 1.
Enteral Iron Intake Recommendations for Preterm Infants in Stable Clinical Condition
| Nutritional Committee/Pediatric Society | Recommended Supplementation | Additional Considerations | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population and dose (mg/kg d−1) | Initiation | Duration | ||
| Committee on Nutrition, American Academy of Pediatrics [47] | Infants on human milk: 2.0 Infants on formula milk: 1.0 During rHuEPO use: up to 6.0 |
1 mo | 12 mo | Only iron-fortified formulas should be used in formula- fed preterm infants |
| Nutrition Committee, Canadian Pediatric Society [56] | Birth weight ≥1000 g: 2.0–3.0 Birth weight <1000 g 3.0–4.0 |
6–8 wk | 12 mo corrected age | A formula containing 12 mg/L of iron may be used to meet the iron requirements of infants with birth weight ≥1000 g. Additional oral iron supplementation is necessary for formula-fed infants with birth weight <1000 g |
| Committee on Nutrition of the Preterm Infant, European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition [57] | Infants on human milk: 2.0–2.5 (maximum, 15 mg/d) Infants on formula milk: 2.0–2.5 (maximum, 15 mg/d) from all sources |
No later than 8 wk | 12–15 months | A formula containing 10–13 mg/L of iron is required to meet total iron requirement without supplementation. Delay oral iron supplementation until erythrocyte transfusions have ceased. |
Abbreviation: rHuEPO, recombinant human erythropoietin