Iron availability from an infant formula supplemented with bovine lactoferrin.

Iron balance studies were performed in 16 term infants from their 3rd until their 17th week of life. The balance studies were performed at home and comprised five periods with an interval of 3 to 4 weeks, each consisting of three 24-hour collections of milk and stool samples. Seven infants were fed an adapted infant formula supplemented with bovine lactoferrin (100 mg/100 ml) and nine received the same formula without lactoferrin. The lactoferrin supplemented group received 169 micrograms iron/kg b.w. x day and retained 63 micrograms/kg b.w. x day. The mean iron intake of infants fed with the adapted formula without supplementation of lactoferrin was 118 micrograms/kg b.w. x day. The retention of iron was 43 micrograms/kg b.w. x day. Mean percentage retention of iron in the supplemented group was 36%, in the non-supplemented group 28%.