Serum ferritin and iron status of a Saudi population assessed from birth to adolescence

The serum iron, total iron binding capacity. and serum ferritin were measured in a normal Saudi population of both sexes, covering ages from birth to adolescence. Normality was assured by including only those subjects whose haemoglobin concentrations fell within the accepted range for Saudi Arabians in the particular sex and age group. Both serum iron and ferritin levels conformed to recognized patterns. The serum iron was highest at birth, lowest in children aged 6 to 12 months, and in adolescent girls. The serum ferritin after peaking during the first four weeks of life, also reached its lowest levels in young children and adolescent girls. In the age groups between 12 to 14 years. individuals are expected to have precarious iron stores, necessitating supplementation. Comparison was also made with several published series and differences in the Saudi iron status stressed

Hematological reference values assessed from birth to adolescence in Saudi subjects in the area of Jeddah

A study of basic haematological values inclusive of the Hb concentration Hct ratio, RBC count, MCV, MCH, MCHC, total and differential leucocyte counts and platelet counts was undertaken in a reference Saudi population in the area of Jeddah from birth to adolescsnce. A total of 843 males and 830 females were investigated. Significant differences in some of the values were found between the sexes at variable periods of physiological development. Comparison with published series from other countries also revealed some differences especially the higher Saudi RBC counts and lower MCV and MCH values. These were discussed and related to the high rate of occurrence of alpha thalassaemia in the Saudi population. The total and differential leucocyte count found for Saudi Arabians fell midway between those reported from Caucasian and tropical communities