HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Young children are at great risk for iron
deficiency because of rapid growth and increased iron requirements,
according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Posted on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:02:45 GMT at
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/hea...enneediron
Kids require different amounts of iron at various ages and stages. Here's how much they should be getting as they grow:
* Infants who breastfeed tend to get enough iron from their mothers until 4-6 months of age, when iron-fortified cereal is usually introduced (although breastfeeding moms should continue to take prenatal vitamins). Infants who are formula-fed should get iron-fortified formula.
* Infants ages 7-12 months need 11 milligrams of iron a day. Babies younger than 1 year should be given iron-fortified cereal in addition to breast milk or an infant formula supplemented with iron.
* Kids ages 1-12 years old need 7-10 milligrams of iron each day.
* Adolescent boys should be getting 11 milligrams of iron a day and adolescent girls should be getting 15 milligrams. (Adolescence is a time of rapid growth and teen girls need additional iron to replace what they lose monthly when they begin menstruating.)
* Young athletes who regularly engage in intense exercise tend to lose more iron and may require extra iron in their diets.