Normal range and predictors of serum erythroferrone in infants

Background Erythroferrone (ERFE) has been identified as a hepcidin-regulating hormone synthetized by erythroblasts correlating to the erythropoietic activity and the needs for iron substrate in bone marrow of adults. The present study aimed to assess the ERFE serum concentrations and its predictors in infants. Methods ERFE was explored at 4 time points during the first year of life in 45 healthy, breastfed, normal birth weight (NBW) infants, and 136 marginally low birth weight infants (LBW, 2000–2500 g) receiving iron ( N = 58) or placebo ( N = 78) between 6 weeks and 6 months of age. Results ERFE concentrations were low at birth, increasing gradually during the first year of life. In NBW infants, reference ranges (5th to 95th percentile) were at 6 weeks