We hear about iron in the diet, but what role does it really play in the body, and more specifically in the case of the youngest children or pregnant women, in what foods is it found and how can it be better assimilated? This article will enable you to find solutions to all these questions to provide iron for your baby.
Benefits of iron for the body
Iron is essential for a child's brain development. It also enables the synthesis of new tissues and the manufacture and functioning of haemoglobin. Haemoglobin binds oxygen, transports it in the blood and delivers it to the body's cells to ensure proper functioning of the body. In the case of moderate deficiencies, we can observe a lesser resistance to infections which are sometimes regular in communities (nurseries, etc.).
Iron requirements for babies
The estimated iron requirements for the first 6 months of life following a normal pregnancy* are low.
In fact, the baby's main source of iron is that accumulated during pregnancy. A correct iron level at birth is therefore essential to avoid deficiency. It is therefore important to ensure that the mother-to-be does not have an iron deficiency.
(*Premature and low birth weight infants are at greater risk of iron deficiency. Maternal diabetes or smoking may also increase the risk of deficiency. Monitoring and appropriate management will be carried out in this case by the medical profession).
Different sources of iron in the diet
Iron-rich foods for babies can be introduced at the time of dietary diversification, especially in the case of exclusive breastfeeding, even if the iron in breast milk is particularly well absorbed by the body, at around 50%. There are two types of iron: haem iron (absorbed by the body to the extent of 20 to 30%) and non-haem iron (absorbed to the extent of 2 to 5%).
Iron sources for babies (listed in descending order of quantity)
Haem iron is mainly found in meat products such as offal (black pudding, kidney, liver, etc.), meat (horse, beef, rabbit, lamb, turkey, chicken, veal, pork, etc.) and fish (sardines, herring, cod, etc.). Non-heme iron is found more in vegetables such as dried fruit (apricots, grapes, prunes, etc.), dried vegetables (red or white beans, lentils, etc.), vegetables (chard, cooked spinach, etc.), eggs, dairy products and fruit.
It is important to know that non-heme iron is best absorbed by the body when consumed with vitamin C, which is mainly found in raw fruit and vegetables!
In practice: this means that at lunchtime, after baby's small dish (containing meat, vegetables, starchy foods and fat), don't hesitate to offer him a puree of ripe, raw fruit!
Interest of infant formulas up to 3 years
It is necessary to specify that despite the iron intake from the above-mentioned foods, the presence of infant milk ( "second age milk" up to 10/12 months and "growth milk" from 1 to 3 years) will ensure a good source of iron on a daily basis. It should be noted that cow's milk is relatively low in iron and poorly absorbed. Maintaining 2 intakes of growing-up milk after 1 year (at breakfast and at snack time for example) will guarantee the presence of iron, even if it means replacing the bottle with a cup or a glass if your child starts to sulk at the bottle! To illustrate this and to obtain the same amount of iron as in 360ml of growing-up milk (i.e. 2 bottles of 180ml), children up to 3 years old would have to eat 230g of veal, 1kg of spinach or 1kg250 of lentils per day! This is simply impossible...
If you want to continue breastfeeding after diversification and to avoid iron deficiency, you should talk to your paediatrician, doctor or paediatric dietician-nutritionist to find solutions...
Dietician - Nutritionist specialising in paediatrics
Sources :
- LAPILLONNE A. Recommendations for iron intake during the first six months of life.
Archives of Pediatrics, May 2017, volume 24, issue 5S, pages 540-544.
- TOUNIAN P., CHOURAQUI JP. Iron and Nutrition. Archives of Pediatrics, May 2017, volume 24, issue 5S, pages 523-531.
- CIQUAL, Table of nutritional composition of foods, ANSES (March 2020)
- • Results of the 2nd part of the SFAE Nutri-baby Study 2013 - Nutritional intakes in 0 to years, Journal of Paediatrics and Childcare, February 2014, Volume 27, Issue 1 pages 45-49.
