A Study on the Iron Nutritional Status with Biochemical Parameters in Preschool Children

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.