Iron deficiency anemia is highly prevalent and is one of the public health issues. First 1000 days of life offers golden period of opportunity to influence health, growth & development. Any insult, environmental, social or nutritional insult, during this period may have long term consequences. Iron plays a critical role in first 2 years of life and influences the rapid growth & development of brain by affecting neurogenesis and differentiation of certain brain cells. Thus optimizing the period of complementary feeding is important so as to provide all the nutrients necessary for the developing brain during this critical phase of development.

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