Is human milk a good source of iron?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. It has more iron than formula
• D. While human milk is low in iron content, it is very efficiently absorbed

Answer: (D)

Iron sufficiency in infancy depends more on how well iron is absorbed than on how much iron is present. Human milk has a relatively low iron concentration, but the iron it contains is highly bioavailable thanks to components like lactoferrin that facilitate absorption and reduce inhibitory effects. That means the iron delivered to a breastfed infant is absorbed efficiently, making human milk a good source of iron for the infant, especially in the first months when stores and low growth demand help meet needs. As the baby grows around 4–6 months, iron requirements rise, so introducing iron-rich complementary foods or iron-fortified formulas becomes important to maintain adequate iron status.