[Prevalence and pathogenesis of iron deficiency in Japanese women (1981-1991)]

Iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent among form of anemia in the world. In Japan, there is no overall report concerning prevalence and pathogenesis of iron deficiency. We estimated the prevalence of iron deficiency from the results of a survey of 3,015 Japanese women. The reference range for hemoglobin was derived from the average value of subjects with normal iron status (> or = 16% of transferrin saturation and > or = 12 ng/ml of serum ferritin). Using these reference standards, the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia, latent iron deficiency, storage iron deficiency, normal and others were 8.5%, 8.0%, 33.4%, 43.6% and 6.5%, respectively. The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia increased beginning in early lower teen girls, was highest in high teen-girls and, young women and decreased in elderly women. In elderly women, the cause of iron deficiency was often obvious associated with anemia of chronic disorders. The strategy for iron deficiency was discussed concerning iron fortification, mega-ingestion of vitamin C and low dose administration of iron tablets in the higher incidence group.