Assessment of the iron status of Filipino adolescents.

ABSTRACT

The iron nutritional status of 1,153 Filipino adolescents from low, medium and high socio-economic groups was assessed by determination of hemoglobin, FEP, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation. Prevalence rates of iron deficiency based on FEP and serum ferritin were higher for females than for males. Iron deficiency was more prevalent among adolescents from low socio-economic families. The high prevalence of iron deficiency (24.4%) based on FEP among females from the low socio-economic group may be due to inadequate iron intake and low availability of dietary iron since 79.7% came from vegetable sources. Compared to FEP and transferrin saturation, serum ferritin determination appeared to be more sensitive as an indicator of iron status.