Related Experiment Videos
Iron nutritional status of preschool children
L Raman1, A B Pawashe, B A Ramalakshmi
1National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad.
Insights
Iron deficiency in preschoolers is common, but standard tests like serum ferritin may not fully capture its extent. Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) levels better indicate widespread iron deficiency in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Hematology
- Nutritional Anemia
Background:
- Low hemoglobin and MCHC levels suggest high iron deficiency incidence in preschoolers.
- Assessing iron deficiency extent requires evaluating multiple biomarkers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the diagnostic trends of serum ferritin and FEP for iron deficiency in preschool children.
- To investigate discrepancies between ferritin and FEP levels in preschool children.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of hemoglobin, MCHC, serum ferritin, and FEP levels in preschool children.
- Correlation of biomarker levels with iron deficiency prevalence.
Main Results:
- FEP levels indicated extensive iron deficiency in 40-45% of children under 5.
- Low serum ferritin was observed in only 16-20% of children.
- Discrepant findings (high ferritin/FEP with low MCHC) suggest co-existing chronic infection or folate deficiency.
Conclusions:
- FEP is a more sensitive indicator of widespread iron deficiency in preschoolers than serum ferritin.
- Elevated FEP and ferritin with low MCHC may indicate iron deficiency complicated by chronic infection or folate deficiency.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the interplay of these factors in preschool children.
Abstract:
Low hemoglobin and low MCHC levels were indicative of high incidence of iron deficiency in preschool children. The extent of iron deficiency as assessed by serum ferritin and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin showed a different trend. While FEP levels were highly suggestive of extensive iron deficiency (in 40-45% of children below the age of 5 years), low serum ferritin was seen in only 16-20% of children. The discrepant finding of high serum ferritin, and high erythrocyte protoporphyrin despite low MCHC in the present study, possibly reflects iron deficiency status along with chronic infection resulting in hyperferritinemia and hyperprotoporphyrinemia. It may be also due to associated folate deficiency resulting in non utilization of iron leading to the elevated levels of protoporphyrin.