ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine the iron status of preschool children in Ulsan, Korea. The study was conducted using 95 children aged 3 to 6 years by investigating the anthropometric indices and assessing the dietary intakes and biochemical analysis. A questionnaire for dietary intakes using 24-hr recall method were carried out by the mothers of the 95 subjects. And also a study was conducted to assess hematological and biochemical status of iron and prevalence of iron deficiency. The average height and weight were 105.4 +/- 7.0 cm, 18.7 +/- 3.2 kg in boys, 103.8 +/- 6.7 cm, 17.6 +/- 2.7 kg in girls. These were lower than the body growth standard values of Korean pediatrics. There was not a significant difference in both between boys and girls. For the daily nutrient intake, energy was 1201.5 +/- 280.9 kcal (79.3%RDA), protein was 63.8 +/- 28.2 g (219.4%RDA), iron was 11.9 +/- 4.5 mg (133.2%RDA). The iron nutritional status by hematological assay found that Hct was 34.7 +/- 2.0 (%), Hb was 12.0 +/- 0.8 g/dl, RBC was 4.3 +/- 0.3 (106/microliter), MCV was 80.5 +/- 3.0 fL, MCH was 27.8 +/- 1.1 pg and MCHC was 34.6 +/- 0.6 g/dl. The biochemical measurement of serum iron was 75.6 +/- 30.3 microgram/dl, TIBC was 320.3 +/- 34.1 microgram/dl, serum ferritin was 30.0 +/- 14.8 microgram/L, Zinc-protophorphyrin (ZPP) was 32.7 +/- 8.0 microgram/dl, and ZPP/Heme was 71.1 +/- 19.5 (micromole/mol heme). The prevalence with Hct, Hb, TS and serum ferritin less than cut-off value was 8.4%, 9.5%, 12.6% and 4.4% respectively. But the prevalence of iron deficiency estimated with ZPP and ZPP/Heme criteria were 25.3% and 27.4%, and were higher than in case of any other indices. The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia ((low Hb (< 11.0 g/dl) and low serum ferritin (< 10 microgram/L) or low TS (3 - 4 years: < 12%, 5 - 6 years: < 14%))was found in only one 3 year old girl. The prevalence of iron deficiency except Hct and Hb was the highest in 3 year group, but the prevalence by Hct and Hb was the highest in 5 year group. Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia do not seem to be a major public health problem in preschool children in Ulsan.