impact of sex on iron status in first year of life

ABSTRACT

Iron deficiency anemia is prevalent allover the world especially in poor countries. Normal iron status is essential for normal behavioral and mental health. Supplementation of iron in the early stages will protect the infant from the permanent psychomotor changes resulting from its deficiency. ZPP/ H ratio is found to be effective in detecting the pre-anemic state. In this study we examined the differences of iron status in female and male infants at the ages of 4, 6 and 12 months. We found that ZPP/H ratio is significantly higher in boys than in girls in the three groups studied denoting their vulnerability to have iron deficiency anemia