Background and Aims
Oral iron is the usual treatment for iron deficiency anemia, but gastrointestinal adverse events may affect therapeutic compliance. The aim of our study was to compare the effectiveness of growth milk formula (GF) versus medicinal oral iron (MI) in the treatment of mild iron deficiency anemia (Hb <11 and ≥9 g / dL).
Method
Nine-month-old infants with mild iron deficiency anemia received after parental consent, either an oral solution of MI [sodium feredetate (SF) or ferric hydroxide polymaltose (FHP)], at a dose of 3 mg/kg/day (n = 111), or a GF enriched with 8.8 mg iron/100 mg of powder (n = 30). The primary endpoint was the correction of anemia after 3 months of intervention.
Results
Mean Hb levels increased significantly on day 30 and day 90 for both groups. This increase in day 30 with respect to the base rate that was significantly greater in the medicinal iron group (MI) versus GF group (0.92 ± 0.28 g / dL versus 0.74 ± 0.25 g / dL , p = 0.002), was no longer at day 90 compared to J30 (1.29 ± 0.44 g / dL versus 1.11 ± 0.39 g / dL, respectively, p = 0.055).
Conclusion
Growth formulas could be an alternative in the treatment of mild iron deficiency anemia.

GROWTH MILK VERSUS MEDICINAL IRON FOR THE TREATMENT OF MILD IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA IN INFANTS