All issues > Volume 35(2); 1992

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1992;35(2):219-225. Published online February 15, 1992.

Factors which Affect the Serum Ferritin in Whole Cow's Related Iron Deficiency Anemia Children

In Sang IS Jeon¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Chung Goo Sung Sim Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

The adverse effect of introducing whole cow's milk (WCM) into the diet of children are still controversial. Between March 1990 and February 1991 a retrospective study was undertaken to assess the factors which affect the serum ferritin in 20 whole cow's milk related iron deficiency anemia children ,experience at the department of Pediatrics, Chung Goo Sung Sim Hospital. The values of serum ferritin decreased significantly as the WCM commencing age was earlier (r=0.570, p<0.01). The values of serum ferritin decreased as the amount of WCM feeding increased, but it was not significant (r=0.026,, p>0.1). The values of serum ferritin decreased as the duration of WCM feeding increased, but it was not significant (r=0.022, p>0.1). Though the feeding of large amount of WCM is related to the deficient state in early childhood, the value of serum ferritin cannot classify the amount of WCM into the iron state specifically. It is concluded that the early WCM feeding is related to the more serve iron deficient state. It should be avoided for the protection of irreversible recognitive and behavioral change.

Keywords :Iron deficient state, Whole cow's milk