relation between pica and iron deficiency in children in Zanjan, Islamic Republic of Iran: a case–control study

The aim of this case.control study was to determine the frequency of pica and its relationship with iron deficiency in children in Zanjan. We selected 872 children and determined the frequency of pica. We selected students who did not have pica of the same age and sex, and in the same class as our cases as a control group. Both groups were evaluated for iron deficiency anaemia. Among the 57 students [6.7%] who had pica, there was no significant relationship with sex [P > 0.05]. The most common types of pica were soil [62.3%] and paper [31.2%]. The frequency of anaemia among cases was greater than in controls, although the difference was not statistically significant. The serum iron/total iron binding capacity ratio . 0.15 did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. We did not find any association between pica and anaemia and/or iron deficiency [P > 0.05]

report of high triglyceride level in cord blood of Iranian newborns

Since cord blood triglyceride level have been reported very different in recent articles, the purpose of this study is determination of triglyceride level in cord blood of Iranian newborns and compare it with other reports. In this study, cord blood of 174 healthy term newborn infants [97 girls, 77 boys] born from healthy mothers have been used. Triglyceride level has been measured by calorie metric method Statistical analysis was performed by independent t test, Mann- Whitney regression test and Spearman correlation coefficient method using SPSS 16 .0 software [SPSS, USA]. The mean of cord blood triglyceride was 1.37 +/- 4.81 mg /dl and there was no statistical difference between two sexes. There was not exist linear relationship between triglyceride and weight, height, head circumference, body mass index and sex of the babies .In 8.6% of our new born infants, triglyceride levels were more than 95[th] percentile of triglyceride level reported in Iranian population. In 33.9% of our cases, triglyceride levels were more than 95[th] percentile of triglyceride level reported in the Nelson text book of Pediatrics. In this study, the 95[th] percentile of triglyceride level in cord blood was 132.5 mg /dl. The mean and 95[th] percentiles of triglyceride levels in cord blood of our newborn infants were higher than other reports. We recommend that larger studies should be conducted in this area to establish preventive ways for increasing epidemic of the metabolic syndrome