Vitasauri® Kids Iron

Why does my child need iron?

Iron is the most abundant trace element in the body. It regulates numerous enzymes that are important for, amongst other things, neurotransmitter metabolism, the immune system, energy production and detoxification.

However, iron's most well-known role is in oxygen transport, where it binds to haemoglobin and delivers oxygen to cells.

When the body lacks iron, iron deficiency anaemia occurs, in which those affected produce too little of the red blood pigment haemoglobin. Consequently, oxygen transport is impaired. Signs of this include tiredness, weakness and a pallid complexion.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in industrialised countries, one in five children between the ages of 0 and 4 are affected by iron deficiency anaemia. (1) Risk factors for iron deficiency include, amongst others, premature birth or low birth weight, vegetarian or vegan diet, or reduced iron absorption in the intestine due to, for example, coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel diseases.

Iron is indispensable for a child's healthy development. The importance of iron is also evident from the many approved health claims:

• Iron contributes to normal cognitive function

• Iron contributes to normal energy metabolism

• Iron contributes to normal cognitive development in children

• Iron plays a role in the process of cell division

• Iron contributes to the reduction of tiredness and exhaustion

• Iron contributes to normal immune system function

• Iron contributes to normal oxygen transport in the body

• Iron contributes to the normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin

What sets our Iron Powder with Lactoferrin apart?

With our iron powder for children, we focus on the highest bioavailability and tolerability. We achieve this through the use of the particularly effective iron form iron bisglycinate and the addition of the protein lactoferrin, an iron transporter, as well as Vitamin C.

In our iron capsules, the iron is in the form of iron bisglycinate as a chelate complex with glycine. Studies suggest that iron in this form is better absorbed, as absorption presumably utilises amino acid transporters in the intestine.

A comparison between iron bisglycinate and commonly used iron sulphate in preterm infants showed that the amino acid complex has better bioavailability.

Iron bisglycinate achieved the same efficacy as iron sulphate – and this with only one quarter of the dose required for iron sulphate! This means a lower burden with elemental iron and makes iron bisglycinate the treatment of choice for the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency. (2)

Lactoferrin appears to further improve the absorption and utilisation of iron. The primary role of lactoferrin, a protein that naturally occurs in the milk of many mammals (including humans), is to bind iron and transport it to cells.

For this reason, there is a lactoferrin receptor in the intestine. For example, it was only in 2020 that a study demonstrated that the addition of lactoferrin to a conventional iron compound (iron sulphate) improved absorption by more than 50 %. (3)

To perfect our formulation, we also use the acerola cherry as a Vitamin C source. Because even small amounts of Vitamin C, between 50 and 100 mg, can improve iron absorption by up to 400 %.

Thanks to the contained strawberry fruit powder and subtle natural flavour, our iron powder tastes incredibly delicious and fruity both neat in water and stirred into food!

Sources

1. World Health Organisation. Nutritional Anaemias: Tools for Effective Prevention and Control. (World Health Organisation, Geneva, 2017).

2. Bagna, R. et al. Efficacy of Supplementation with Iron Sulfate Compared to Iron Bisglycinate Chelate in Preterm Infants. Curr. Pediatr. Rev. 14, 123–129 (2018).

3. Mikulic, N. et al. Iron Absorption is Greater from Apo-Lactoferrin and is Similar Between Holo-Lactoferrin and Ferrous Sulfate: Stable Iron Isotope Studies in Kenyan Infants. J. Nutr. 150, 3200–3207 (2020).