To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldOBJECTIVE: To investigate the iron status of 6-y-old children and its association with growth and earlier iron status. DESIGN: In a cross-sectional study, children's body size measurements were recorded and blood samples taken near their sixth birthday. SUBJECTS: A sample of 188 children, randomly selected in two previous studies, was contacted, and 139(74%) agreed to participate. RESULTS: No children had iron deficiency anaemia, one was iron-deficient (serum ferritin (SF) or =15 microg/l (258+/-31%; n=49) (P=0.001). MCV at 2 y predicted weight gain from 2 to 6 y (B+/-s.e.=1.721+/-0.581; P=0.005; adj. R2=0.153) (n=44); also, children with SF or =15 microg/l (n=35) gained 9.6+/-2.8 kg (P=0.007), furthermore a difference was seen in proportional weight gain from 2 to 6 y between children with depleted iron stores at 2 y and not, or 156+/-13 vs 169+/-18% (P=0.038). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that low iron status at 1 and 2 y might lead to slower growth up to 6 y of age. Low iron status at 1 and 2 y and/or slower growth from 1 and 2 y up to 6 y might contribute to worse iron status at 6 y, while faster growth in early childhood is related to lower iron status
