Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world, affecting 3.5 billion people, which is over half of the world's population. Iron deficiency does not only occur in low socio-economic populations, is also affects more affluent societies such as Australia.
The elderly, menstruating women, adolescent girls, vegetarians, refugees, recent migrants, and infants are most at risk of iron deficiency. Statistics from the 1995 National Nutrition Survey indicate that one quarter of children in Australia had evidence of iron deficiency, with 2-3% having iron deficiency anaemia.

Iron deficiency can impair cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, learning ability and behaviour, and can also affect physical performance. In young children however, iron deficiency can have a permanent negative impact on intellectual development.

The reversibility of these effects seems to depend on the age of the child. The most critical time for deficiency to have the largest impact with little chance of reversibility, is between nine and eighteen months of age. It is at this time that parents should be most aware of their child's iron intake.

A study carried out in Sydney on Australian-born children from an Arabic background, has revealed that this group was prone to over-consumption of cow's milk, which could lead to the displacement of iron rich foods in the child's diet. According to Dr Tony Helman, Chairperson of the Australian Iron Status Advisory Board, the relationship between the over consumption of milk and iron deficiency is not limited to the low iron content of milk. Milk can also fill children up so they are less likely to eat other foods, which may be iron rich. This idea not only applies to milk, but to over consumption of fluids in general.

Other risk factors for iron deficiency in children include premature birth, low birth weight, introduction of cow's milk before 12 months of age, late introduction of solids, and other poor feeding practices.

Prevention of iron deficiency in children could be as simple as feeding children just 1 tablespoon of red meat per day. This can be in a bolognese sauce, hamburger meat or sausages, for example.

References:
Karr MA, Mira M, Alperstein G, Labib S, Webster BH, Lammi AT, Beal P. Iron deficiency in Australian-born children of Arabic background in central Sydney. MJA 2001; 174: 165-168.

Meat & Livestock Australia. Vital Newsletter. Issue no. 12, June 2001.

Australian Dairy Corporation. Nutrition News. Issue no. 2, May 2001.

Last Updated: September 24, 2001.