What percentage of iron is in breast milk?

Understanding Iron Content in Breast Milk
Breast milk is often hailed as the ideal source of nutrition for infants, particularly in the first six months of life. Among its many components, iron plays a crucial role in the healthy development of a growing baby. However, the concentration of iron in breast milk is relatively low compared to other nutrients.
Iron Concentration in Breast Milk
The average concentration of iron in human breast milk is approximately 0.4 to 0.5 mg/L. This figure indicates that while breast milk does contain iron, the levels are not particularly high. For context, this concentration is significantly lower than the iron levels found in plasma.
Physiological Needs and Absorption
Despite the low concentration, the iron present in breast milk is highly bioavailable, meaning that it is well absorbed by infants. Studies have shown that the fractional absorption of iron from breast milk can be around 16%, which is relatively efficient given the low concentration. This absorption rate is crucial, especially since infants are born with iron stores that typically last for the first six months, after which they may require additional iron sources.
Implications for Infant Nutrition
The low iron content in breast milk raises important considerations for infant nutrition as babies approach six months of age. The Institute of Medicine has established that an adequate intake of iron for healthy full-term infants is about 0.27 mg/L, which aligns with the iron content found in breast milk. As infants grow and their iron needs increase, healthcare providers often recommend introducing iron-rich complementary foods around this age to prevent iron deficiency.
In summary, while breast milk provides essential nutrients for infants, its iron content is modest, necessitating careful attention to an infant’s dietary needs as they grow.

What food is highest in iron?

Food Sources of Iron

Foods with heme iron	Serving	Iron (mg)
Liver (pork, chicken, or beef)*	75 g (2 ½ oz)	4.6 to 13.4
Oysters** or mussels	75 g (2 ½ oz)	5.0 to 6.3
Lamb or beef	75 g (2 ½ oz)	1.5 to 2.4
Clams	75 g (2 ½ oz)	2.1

How much iron is in 100ml of breast milk?

In particular, iron content is 0.5–1.0 mg/L in colostrum and 0.3–0.7 mg/L in mature milk, but its bioavailability is 20%–50%, which is more effective than in infant formula (4%–7%).

What drink is full of iron?

Drinks high in iron include:

• Apple juice.
• Apricot nectar.
• Beef broth.
• Beet juice.
• Cocoa using natural cocoa powder.
• “Green” smoothies. Usually containing ingredients such as kale, spinach, celery, Swiss chard, wheatgrass, cucumber, parsley, and mint.
• Orange juice.
• Pea protein smoothies.

How long does postpartum anemia last?

How long does postpartum anemia last? There’s no set time period for the resolution of postpartum iron deficiency anemia. However, it’d be expected to last as long as sufficient iron is not restored to bring the hemoglobin levels back to normal.

Are breastfed babies more likely to be anemic?

Previous studies demonstrated that term normal-birth-weight infants who are exclusively breast-fed beyond 6 mo of age have a higher rate of iron deficiency anemia than infants fed iron-fortified formula or iron-fortified complementary foods (55, 56, 57).

Is iron lost during lactation?

Lactating women are also particularly vulnerable to anemia, as their iron stores are depleted to maintain the iron quality in breast milk, especially when their energy and iron intake are inadequate.

How much iron is in 1 cup of whole milk?

Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat, 1 cup

Protein (g)	7.86
Iron, Fe (mg)	0.07
Magnesium, Mg (mg)	24.4
Phosphorus, P (mg)	222.04
Potassium, K (mg)	348.92

Is there enough iron in breastmilk?

Breast milk contains little iron. Parents of infants receiving only breast milk should talk to their infant’s health care provider about whether their infant needs iron supplements in the first 6 months and afterwards. At about 6 months, infants require a source of iron outside of breast milk.

What percentage of iron is in milk?

Cow’s milk has very low iron content (only 0.5 mg/L).

How much iron passed through breast milk?

Hb iron and storage iron present at birth are the most important iron sources during the first few months of life for full-term infants, particularly breast-fed infants. Another source of iron is breast milk, which contains a low amount (mean iron content = 0.35 mg/L) with a bioavailability of 45%–100%.