Every Bite Counts

Iron deficiency is recognised by the World Health Organisation as the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in both the developing and developed world. It affects 30% of the global population with 40% of pregnant women and 42% of preschool children estimated to be anaemic. (1 ) Our in-house Registered Nutritionist, Fiona Windle casts the spotlight on the importance of iron for young children in light of this year’s World Iron Awareness Week campaign.

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Did you know by around 7 months, a baby needs more dietary iron than their father? (2)  The phenomenon of tapering iron stores to be replenished by this age, was first discovered by British pediatrician, Helen Mackay who in the 1920s studied the haemoglobin levels of young children in East London.  To treat infections, it wasn’t until iron salts were introduced to supplementary milk interventions, that haemoglobin levels stopped declining.  Her findings also revealed that half of the infants supplemented with iron suffered less infections. (3)  Mackay’s work in determining lower limits of haemoglobin in infants, and the need to introduce iron in the diet, is mirrored in today’s World Health Organisation’s guidance. (4)

Today, in recognising the nutritional vulnerability of infants, and the critical role dietary iron plays in a range of metabolic processes for health and development, iron-rich complementary foods are a key vehicle in helping meet their nutritional needs.  In New Zealand, the recommended first foods to complement baby’s milk, include iron-fortified cereal, puréed cooked meat or alternatives, plain rice or congee, cooked and puréed veges and fruit and age-appropriate commercial infant foods.5  This Ministry of Health guidance underpins the advice of health practitioners and organisations supporting young families.  Every bite counts when it comes to fuelling infant’s iron requirements for rapid growth and development (11mg at 7-12 months vs 8mg for men). (2)  In practical terms, infant meals need to provide a source of iron and from around 8 months of age, the transition of food offered before milk feeds begins.(5)

So, in the land of plenty why are 8 out of 10 New Zealand toddlers not meeting their daily iron requirements (6) and 14% of children under 2 years iron deficient? (7)  And how might these alarming statistics worsened for young families over recent years, and even recent months as the issue of food security worsens in our communities?  It is our most vulnerable who nutritionally suffer the most.

A renowned nutrition professor approached Beef + Lamb New Zealand 30 years ago to highlight the issue of iron deficiency. This triggered a series of promotional efforts, with iron as a backbone of many a campaign, to help tackle the issue.  Highlighting the role iron plays in brain development in babies, the Baby Ironstein campaign (8) was born in the 1990s, featuring a bonny baby cooing in interest as the stock exchange was reported on the television screen in front of him. Imagine the backlash these days of complaints about letting a baby watch TV unsupervised. 

This year’s World Iron Awareness Week campaign builds on the momentum of drawing attention to this global and national issue, with a particular focus on babies and toddlers. 

For more information visit ironweek.co.nz and to join the conversation, use the hashtag #WorldIronWeek

IRON FAST FACTS

  • 30% or 2 billion of the world’s population are anaemic, many due to iron deficiency, with infectious diseases exacerbating the condition in developing countries. (1)

  • In developing countries every second pregnant woman and about 42% of preschool children are estimated to be anaemic. (1)

  • In New Zealand, 8 out of 10 toddlers don’t meet their daily requirement for iron. (6)

  • 14% of children under 2 years are low in iron. (7)

  • 7% of New Zealand newborn babies are iron deficient

  • A third of teenage girls don’t achieve their daily iron requirements. (1)

  • In in 14 New Zealand women are low in iron. (10)

  • Iron plays an essential role in growth and development, immunity and energy levels.

References

  1. World Health Organisation. Anaemia. https://www.who.int/health-topics/anaemia#tab=tab_1 Accessed 22 July, 2020.

  2. National Health and Medical Research Council and Ministry of Health. (2006). Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Canberra, ACT. 

  3. Stevens, D. (1991). Helen Mackay, another iron lady. British Medical Journal, 303(6795):147-148. doi: 10.1136/bmj.303.6795.147

  4. World Health Organisation. (2016). Daily iron supplementation in infants and toddlers guideline. World Health Organisation: Geneva.

  5. Ministry of Health. (2008) . Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Infants and Toddlers (Aged 0-2): A background paper (4th Ed). Wellington: Ministry of Health. 

  6. Wall, CR et al. (2009). Ethnic variance in iron status: is it related to dietary intake? Public Health Nutr 12 (9):1413-1421.

  7. Grant, CC et al. (2007). Population prevalence and risk factors for iron deficiency in Auckland, New Zealand. J Paediatr Child Health 43: 532-538.

  8. Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc Campaign Archive https://www.beeflambnz.co.nz/campaignvideos Accessed 22 July, 2020.

  9. Morton, SB et al. (2014). Maternal and perinatal predictors of newborn iron status. NZ Med J 127 (1402): 62-76.

  10. University of Otago and Ministry of Health. (2011). A Focus on Nutrition: Key findings of the 2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey. Wellington: Ministry of Health.

Fiona WindleWIAW