Sajjad Haider, Tariq Afzal, Zafar Iqbal.
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) and Transferrin Saturation as Indicators of Iron Status in Breastfed and Bottle Fed Infants.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;7(1):117-9.

Objective: To evaluate iron status in breastfed and bottle fed infants using TIBC and transferring saturation and also to compare iron status in breastfed and bottle fed infants. Subjects and methods: This was cross-sectional randomized study. Ninety infants of 6-8 months of age were enrolled which declared healthy by preventive Pediatrics Department of Jinnah Hospital, Ganga Ram Hospital and Mayo Hospital and some MCH Centres of Allama Iqbal Town and Wahdat Colony, Lahore. They are further divided into 3 groups, group I breastfed (human milk), group IIA formula milk fed and group IIB animal milk fed. Healthy infants declared healthy by concerned preventive pediatrics department were included in the study. While sick infants, those on iron supplements were not included. It was based on proforma based information and laboratory investigations. Iron, TIBC and transferring saturation was calculated by standard laboratory procedures to protocol. Results: Serum TIBC in breastfed group I was in range of 280-302 µg/dl. Mean value was 293.67±4.73. In group IIA (formula milk fed) TIBC was in range of 280-300 µg/dl with mean was 289.3±6.06. Serum TIBC in group IIB (animal milk fed) was in range of 339-400 µg/dl with mean value of 386.60±10.3. Transferrin saturations in group I was 29-35% with mean 32.1±1.26, group IIA was 32.6-39.2% with mean 35.98±1.66 and Group IIB 8.52-11.84% while mean 9.87±0.73 respectively. Conclusion: Serum TIBC of breastfed infants and formula milk fed infants was in same range similarity transferrin saturation showed same pattern in normal range for these two groups. In animal milk fed, the TIBC was in lower range along with transferring saturation. So it can be concluded that iron status in breast milk fed infants iron is same as that formula milk fed infants. The infants fed on animal milk are deficient in their iron levels. Breast milk feeding must be encourged to avoid iron deficiency in infants.

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