Enteral Iron Dose Effect on Iron Storage, Intestinal Barrier, and Gut Microbiome in Preterm Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The authors aimed to compare the effects of two different enteral iron doses (2 mg/kg/day vs. 6 mg/kg/day) on gut health in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants, specifically investigating concerns about potential harms to the gut microbiome and intestinal barrier function. The study found that the higher iron dose improved iron status and did not negatively impact the gut microbiome, suggesting that concerns about gut microbiome disruption do not justify lower iron dosing in this population.