Iron deficiency poses a serious health threat to exclusively breastfed infants.
Multiple studies substantiate that iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia are significant health concerns for exclusively breastfed infants, particularly as they approach six months of age, justifying careful monitoring and potential supplementation.
The claim is specific, empirical, and falsifiable, thus passing Step 0. The retrieved literature uniformly highlights that iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia are prevalent and clinically significant risks for exclusively breastfed infants as their iron stores deplete around 4 to 6 months of age. No papers refute this; therefore, the balance of evidence clearly supports the claim.
Muhammad Umar Saleem, Hira Khalid, Sana Rehman, Ujala Aymun, Nagham Nawaz Awan. Frequency of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Exclusively Breastfed and Infants Fed on Cow’s Milk. 2023. https://doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs2023172593
Notes that iron deficiency is a prevalent nutrient deficiency and examines anemia among exclusively breastfed infants.
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Varea A, Disalvo L, Sala M, Matamoros N, Fasano MV, González HF. Anemia and iron deficiency in healthy, exclusively breastfed infants: Prevalence and association with sex and birth weight.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.5546/aap.2026-11073.eng
Finds high prevalence rates of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia in healthy exclusively breastfed infants at six months of age.
Ge D, Nie J, Shi Y, Li C, Li W, Liu J. Male sex and iron deficiency risk at 6 months: the mediating role of rapid weight gain.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1829613
Identifies a high risk of iron deficiency in exclusively breastfed male infants at six months.
Kimura M, Taketani T. Hemoglobin Response to a Low-Iron Dose in Infantile Anemia.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.107641
Notes that iron-deficiency anemia is common during infancy, particularly among exclusively breastfed infants after six months.
Svensson LK, Chmielewski G, Domellöf M, Konarska Z, Pieścik-Lech M, Späth C, Szajewska H, Chmielewska A. Iron in breastfed infants and behavior at 3 years: a randomized trial.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-56401-z
States that breastfed infants are particularly vulnerable to iron deficiency, which is associated with impaired neurodevelopment.
Dörtkardeşler BE, Tosyali M, Koç F, Hıdır OB, Ak G. Assessment of Micronutrient Deficiencies in Exclusively Breastfed Infants: A Cross-Sectional Study.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/children12121702
Reports that iron and vitamin D deficiencies remain common in exclusively breastfed infants despite supplementation programs.
. Eesha, KC Aggarwal, Sumita Saluja. Iron Deficiency Anaemia among Exclusively Breastfed Term Infants of 4-6 Months Age and its Contributing Factors: A Cross-sectional Study. 2022. https://doi.org/10.7860/jcdr/2022/51969.15999
Demonstrates that approximately one-third of healthy, term exclusively breastfed infants become iron deficient by six months of age.
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