Iron deficiency and infection.

Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world. Children, particularly infants living in developing countries are highly vulnerable to infectious diseases. Therefore, understanding the relationship between iron deficiency and infection is of great importance. Iron deficiency is associated with impairment of innate (natural) immunity and cell mediated immunity, thereby contributing to increased risk of infections. The iron acquisition by the microbes and their virulence is determined by various host and microbial mechanisms. Altering these mechanisms might provide modes of future therapy for infectious diseases.

Factores de riesgo y de protección para la anemia ferropénica en niños menores de 6 años: segundo premio poster: LIII Congreso Nacional de Pediatría 2007 / Risk and protection factor for iron deficiency anemia in children under 6 years of age: second reward poster: LIII National Congress of Pediatrics 2007

La anemia ferropénica es un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. Los niños pequeños son más vulnerables a esta deficiencia. Determinar los factores de riesgo y protección para la anemia ferropénica en niños menores de 6 años. Estudio descriptivo, transversal. Se evaluaron 100 niños. Edad, género, estratificación social, tipo de lactancia, edad de ablactación, diagnóstico nutricional, características de la dieta (calorías, proteínas y hierro). Hemoglobina (Hb), Hematocrito (HTO), Volumen Corpuscular Medio (VCM), Hemoglobulina Corpuscular Media (HCM), hierro sérico. A las variables se les aplicó un análisis de regresión logística simple. 46 por ciento de los pacientes tenían anemia. Siendo la media para la edad de 19,2 meses, tiempo de lactancia materna exclusiva 5,2 meses, inicio de ablactación de 5,7 meses, hemoglobina de 9,9 g/dl. Se observa que en los niños de menor edad existe un mayor riesgo de presentar anemia. No se demostró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre los pacientes anémicos y no anémicos en relación al Gaffar Méndez Castellano y diagnóstico nutricional. Los factores de riesgo para la anemia con valores de Odds Ratio (OR) >1 fueron la edad menor de 24 meses, ausencia de lactancia materna exclusiva en menores de 6 meses, ablactación antes de los 5 meses, dietas hipocalóricas y el hierro sérico < 41 ug/dL. La dieta normoproteica resultó ser factor de protección (OR<1). Se evidenció la importancia de la lactancia materna y de una adecuada alimentación complementaria a partir del 5° mes de la vida como factores de protección para la anemia ferropénica en niños menores de 6 años.

Iron deficiency anemia is considered as a worlwide public health problem. Small children are more vulnerable to this deficiency. To determine the risk and protection factors for iron deficiency anemia in children under 6 years of age. This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. 100 children were evaluated. Age, gender, social stratification, nursing type, complementary feedings, nutritional diagnosis, characteristic of the diet (calories, proteins and iron). Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HTO), mean corpuscular volume (VCM), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (HCM), total and fractional proteins, serum iron. 46% of patients wer anemic. Average values were: age 19,2 months, duration of exclusive breastfeeding 5.2 months, beginning of complementary feeding 5,7 months, hemoglobin 9.9 g/dl. Younger children had an increased risk of developin ganemia. There was not a statistically significant difference between anemic and non anemic patients in regard to Graffar and nutritional diagnosis. Risk factors for anemia (Odds Ratio-OR-values >1) were age under 24 months, lack of exclusive breastfeeding in children under 6 months, complementary feedings before 5 months of age, hypocaloric diet and serum iron <41 ug/dL. Normoproteic diets proved to be a protection factor (OR<1). Breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feedings after 5 months of age are protection factors for iron deficiency anemia in children under 6 years of age.

Impact of iron deficiency anaemia on T lymphocytes & their subsets in children.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: While there is evidence of an altered immune profile in iron deficiency, the precise immunoregulatory role of iron is not known. Information particular in children who are vulnerable to iron deficiency and infection, is lacking. We undertook this study with the aim of documenting the changes in T cell subsets in children in the age group of 1 to 5 yr with iron deficiency. METHODS: The levels of T lymphocytes, their CD4+ and CD8+ subsets and the CD4 : CD8 ratio were evaluated in 40 iron deficient and 30 healthy children. The impact of oral iron supplementation for three months on the same parameters was also noted in 30 children. RESULTS: Significantly lower levels of T lymphocytes as well as CD4+ cells was observed in the iron deficient children (P<0.01 and 0.002 respectively). The CD4 : CD8 ratio was also significantly lower in this group (P<0.05). Iron supplementation improved the CD4 counts significantly. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated quantitatively altered T cell subsets in iron deficiency in children, and a relationship between the severity of haematological and immunological compromise. The clinical and epidemiological implications of this relationship have topical relevance since ID is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide.