Table 4 Infant hemoglobin and ferritin levels according to feeding pattern at ages 3 and 5 months

n/total (%)

Hb (g/L), mean (SD)

Ferritin (µg/L), median (IQR)

n/total (%)

Hb (g/L), mean (SD)

Ferritin (µg/L), median (IQR)

Exclusively breast feeding

42/91 (46.2)

115.1 (7.8)

103.1 (50.9–116.9)

35/88 (39.8)

118.6 (8.2)

*35.4 (19.9–60.6)

Mixed feeding

38/91 (41.8)

110.7 (8.3)

125.8 (76.1–171.4)

27/88 (30.7)

118.8 (7.6)

54.7 (29.2–67.0)

Exclusively formula feeding

11/91 (12.1)

116.2 (6.8)

183.6 (91.2–241.3)

26/88 (29.5)

119.3 (9.8)

*60.8 (37.6–83.6)

p-value for difference among feeding groups

0.069

0.090

0.958

0.016