What is the recommended iron intake for standard and premie infants?

For standard and premature infants, the recommended iron intake is 2 mg/kg/day. Adequate iron is crucial for infant growth and development, as it plays a vital role in hemoglobin formation and oxygen transport. Full-term infants typically have sufficient iron stores to last their first six months, but after that, supplemental iron becomes important, especially if they are being exclusively breastfed.

Premature infants, on the other hand, are at a higher risk of iron deficiency due to the limited stores they have at birth and the increased demands for growth and development. Therefore, they require a higher intake of iron.

The caloric intake recommendation of 120 kcal/kg/day aligns with the growth needs of infants, taking into account the increased energy expenditure associated with their rapid growth phases. These values ensure that infants receive adequate nutrition to support their development while preventing iron deficiency anemia.