(P07-041-23) Iron-Fortified Foods Are Needed To Meet the Estimated Average Requirement for Iron in Australian Infants 6–12 Months

Objectives: Three-quarters of Australian infants 6-12m have iron intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement (7 mg), placing them at risk for iron deficiency. After 6 months, breastmilk is no longer sufficient to meet the increased demand for iron, and iron-rich complementary foods are recommended. Iron-fortified foods may be a means of improving iron intake in infants, particularly those that are breastfed. The primary objectives of this study are 1) To examine the effect of milk type and fortified foods on iron intake and the prevalence of inadequacy in infants 6-12m; 2) To model the effect of fixed amounts of iron-fortified infant cereal (IFIC) at six levels of iron fortification on total iron intake and the prevalence of inadequacy; and 3) To assess the effect IFIC on the intake of other nutrients in the diet.

Methods: Cross-sectional secondary analysis of dietary intake data from infants 6-12m (n=286) in the Australian Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (OzFITS) 2021.

Results: Median (IQR) iron intake was 8.9 (7.5, 10.3); 6.3 (4.5, 8.2); and 2.7 (1.5, 4.4) mg/d in formula-fed, combination-fed, and breastfed infants, respectively. The corresponding prevalence of inadequacy was 19%, 67%, and 96%. Infants who consumed fortified foods had higher median iron intakes than those who did not, 6.2 vs. 1.9 mg/d. Dietary modeling showed that consuming 18g (300 kJ) of IFIC, fortified at 35 mg/100g dry weight, reduced the prevalence of inadequacy for iron from 75% to 5% for all infants.

Conclusions: Iron intakes are low in Australian infants, especially for breastfed infants in the second half of infancy. Modeling shows that adding 300kJ of IFIC, the current manufacturer-recommended amount, fortified at 35mg/100g dry weight, to infant diets is an effective means to reduce the prevalence of inadequacy for iron.

Funding Sources: This research was supported by a grant in aid (to MM and TJG) from the Nestle Nutrition Institute (Australia). The Nestle Nutrition Institute had no role in the design of this study nor in its execution, analyses, interpretation, or decision to submit results. NAM was supported by an Adelaide Scholarship International from the University of Adelaide. MM was supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grant (APP2016756); MJN was supported by an NHMRC fellowship (Early Career Fellow APP1156518).