Iron deficiency in preterm infants

Key words: Iron deficiency, Preterm infants, Iron overload, Iron supplementation

Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide. Preterm infants are a special risk group, because of lower total body iron at birth, rapid catch-up growth and uncompensated phlebotomy losses. Recent scientific literature suggests that iron supplementation begins from the third week of age, earlier than previously recommended. In order to avoid iron overload, pre-term infants who have received multiple transfusions may maintain iron stores without iron sup-plementation up to 6 months of life.