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July 6, 1999
Web posted at: 5:16 p.m. EDT (2116 GMT)

(CNN) -- Infant formula fortified with iron can help ward off anemia and does not carry health risks, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) committee on nutrition.

The group issued guidelines Tuesday in the journal Pediatrics, saying babies should be fed formula containing up to 12 milligrams of iron per liter once they stop breast-feeding.

To help prevent anemia, researchers said infants up to a year old should consume a minimum of 4 milligrams of iron daily.

Pediatricians recommend mothers breast-feed their babies, for a variety of health reasons, and use formula only after breast-feeding has been stopped.

The AAP committee urged that brands of formula containing less than the recommended doses of iron be discontinued or labeled "nutritionally insufficient." Up to 30 percent of the formula sold in the United States would fall into this category.

Previously the AAP had recommended that iron-fortified formulas be given to infants to promote normal growth and development. It was also considered beneficial for infants to build up a storage of iron so that they would not be adversely affected when switching to cow's milk, which is sometimes iron-deficient.

The authors said it was a misperception that infants who are fed iron-fortified formula often suffer from gastrointestinal distress such as colic, constipation or diarrhea.

Citing other studies comparing infants fed low-iron and iron-fortified formulas, the committee concluded there was "no differences in prevalence of fussiness, cramping, (or) colic."

Reuters contributed to this report.