New PhD student Ludwig Svensson chosen to present abstract at Nutrition & Growth congress 2024 in Lisbon
Ludwig Svensson, the new PhD student with the Supplementing Iron and Development in Breastfed Infants (SIDBI) study was selected to present an abstract; ‘Effect of low-dose iron supplementation in breastfed infants on development during early childhood: results from a randomized placebo-controlled trial’ as an oral presentationat the recent Nutrition & Growth congress held in Lisbon, Portugal 15-17 February 2024.
The SIDBI study is about preventing iron deficiency in children who are breastfed and whether this can improve their neurodevelopment.
Iron supplementation is recommended for risk groups such as e.g. low birth weight babies but whether this is useful in full-term children requires further research and this is what the SIDBI study aims to contribute towards.
At the congress in Lisbon, both Ludwig’s supervisor Anna Chmielewska and co-super Magnus Domellöf were present for the abstract presentation.
“These are the first results from this very important study which will have a clear impact on future guidelines”, said Magnus Domellöf
Effect of low-dose iron supplementation in breastfed infants on development during early childhood: results from a randomized placebo-controlled trial
Background and Aims
Breastfed infants are at risk of iron deficiency (ID) which is associated with suboptimal development. Evidence on effects of iron supplementation on child development is inconsistent and current guidelines are contradictory. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether daily iron supplementation, administered between 4 and 9 months of age to exclusively or predominantly breastfed infants, enhances psychomotor development at 12 months of age.
Methods
In a randomized, quadruple-blinded placebo-controlled trial, healthy and full term exclusively or near exclusively (>50% meals) breastfed infants (n = 221) were randomized to receive low dose iron supplementation (approximately 1 mg/kg/day) or placebo between 4 and 9 months of life. At 12 months, psychomotor development was assessed using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III.
Results
Out of 221 randomized infants, 200 (90%) were included in intention-to-treat analysis. Iron supplementation (n = 104) compared to placebo (n = 96) had no effect on motor development (mean difference -1.07 points, 95% CI: -4.69, 2.55, main outcome); cognitive score (-1.13, 95% CI: -4.26, 1.99); and language score (0.75, 95% CI: -2.3, 3.8) at 12 months. Additionally, iron supplementation did not reduce risk for ID (relative risk RR 0.49; 95% CI: 0.17, 1.41) or ID anemia (IDA) (RR 0.84, 95% CI: 0.05, 13.3) at 12 months.
Conclusions
Breastfed infants had no benefit from low dose daily iron supplementation given between 4 and 9 months in terms of psychomotor development or the risk of ID and IDA.