Relationship of maternal and infant iron stores as assessed by determination of plasma ferritin.

Using plasma ferritin derminations, iron stores have been evaluated at the end of pregnancy in 26 women and followed sequentially in their healthy, full-term infants. It has been shown that the iron storage status of the mother does not affect the iron status of the infant. Determinations of plasma ferritin in the infants have demonstrated that by 6 months of age the iron status of the infant reflects the adequacy of the dietary intake of iron. In the absence of effective iron supplementation during the first six months, plasma ferritin levels fall to low levels, indicating the depletion of iron stores in the infant.