Iron deficiency and risk factors for lower iron stores in 6-24-month-old New Zealanders

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Hematology
• Public Health

Background:

• Iron deficiency is a significant global health issue in young children.
• Assessing iron status and associated factors is crucial for early intervention.
• Limited data exists on iron status among South Island New Zealand children aged 6-24 months.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of biochemical iron deficiency in 6-24-month-old children in urban South Island, New Zealand.
• To identify factors associated with serum ferritin levels in this age group.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 1998 to March 1999 in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill.
• Blood samples were collected from 263 children (aged 6-24 months) for complete blood count, zinc protoporphyrin, serum ferritin, and C-reactive protein analysis.
• Dietary intake (3-day weighed food records) and general questionnaire data were collected.

Main Results:

• Among children with C-reactive protein <10 mg/l, 4.3% had iron deficiency anemia, 5.6% had iron deficiency without anemia, and 18.6% had depleted iron stores (ferritin ≤12 μg/l).
• Factors associated with ferritin levels included age, sex (girls > boys), ethnicity (Caucasian > non-Caucasian), weight-for-age percentiles, and birth weight.
• Consumption of iron-fortified formula was associated with a 22% increase in ferritin, while consuming >500 ml of cow's milk daily was linked to a 25% decrease.

Conclusions:

• Nearly 29% of young children in this New Zealand cohort exhibited suboptimal iron status.
• While severe iron deficiency was rare, marginal iron status poses a risk for developing severe deficiency under physiological stress.
• These findings underscore the importance of monitoring iron status in young children and identifying contributing dietary and demographic factors.