ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted to sixty children [38 male and 22 female] with an average age eight years. Hemoglobin [Hb] was used to assess anemia. Iron deficiency anemic children were determined in a convenience sample of children aged 12-36 month from low-income families who were attending the out-patient clinic of Kasr Al-Aini hospital with iron deficiency anemia [IDA]. Twenty normal children were chosen as a control group. This study aimed to evaluate the changes induced in the electrical and magnetic properties of Hb in IDA. Oscillator strength, magnetic susceptibility, electrical conductivity, concentrations of some trace elements [Zn, Cu, Fe, Pb and Ph], serum ferritin, transferrin and adcnosine triphosphate [ATP] as well as superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity were measured. Results showed increase in hemoglobin electrical conductivity, serum ferritin either in male or female and concentrations of cupper and phosphorus. An increase in the molar magnetic susceptibility of Hb of the IDA patients was observed, when compared to control subjects. ATP, serum transferrin and iron concentrations were decreased in IDA patients. It was concluded that iron deficiency anemia affect the spin state of heme iron and the tertiary structure of hemoglobin and altering the hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratio on the hemoglobin molecule surface