Factors Associated With Iron Status Among WIC Infants and Toddlers in Rural West Virginia

by Cindy Fitch

Iron deficiency severe enough to cause anemia may affect children’s ability to grow and learn and, consequently, their lifelong productivity and earnings. This study examined the iron status of infants and toddlers ages 6-24 months with a prevalence of anemia of at least 10 percent participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in West Virginia counties. Blood screening performed especially for this study found that 12 of the 57 infants and toddlers (21 percent) were iron deficient, considerably more than the 4 of 49 (8 percent) with anemia. Because the screening methods routinely performed outside of the study are unable to detect iron deficiency before it progresses to anemia, primary prevention of iron deficiency is the only option that may be universally applied. Expert feeding recommendations—such as introducing iron-rich complementaryfoods after 6 months of age and limiting consumption of milk among children ages 12-24 months to no more than 24 ounces—are useful for promoting adequate intake of readily-available iron and may help prevent iron deficiency.

This study was conducted by West Virginia University under a cooperative research contract with USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) Food and Nutrition Assistance Research Program (FANRP): contract number 43-3AEM-0-80073 (ERS project representative: Elizabeth Frazao). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ERS or USDA.

Keywords: Iron deficiency, anemia in children, West Virginia, infants, nutrition, toddlers, iron deficiency anemia, child nutrition, infant nutrition, WIC Program, ERS, USDA

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