Impact of iron deficiency anaemia on T lymphocytes & their subsets in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Immunology
• Nutritional Immunology
• Hematology

Background:

• Iron deficiency (ID) is common in children and linked to altered immune profiles, but its specific immunoregulatory role remains unclear.
• Limited data exists on the impact of iron deficiency on T cell subsets in young children, a vulnerable population.
• Understanding iron's effect on immunity is crucial for addressing the global burden of micronutrient deficiencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document changes in T cell subsets (T lymphocytes, CD4+, CD8+, CD4:CD8 ratio) in children aged 1-5 years with iron deficiency.
• To investigate the impact of oral iron supplementation on these T cell parameters in iron-deficient children.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of T lymphocyte subsets (CD4+, CD8+) and CD4:CD8 ratio in 40 iron-deficient children and 30 healthy controls.
• Evaluation of the effects of three months of oral iron supplementation on T cell parameters in 30 iron-deficient children.

Main Results:

• Iron-deficient children exhibited significantly lower levels of T lymphocytes (P<0.01) and CD4+ cells (P<0.002).
• A significantly lower CD4:CD8 ratio was observed in iron-deficient children (P<0.05).
• Oral iron supplementation led to a significant improvement in CD4+ cell counts.

Conclusions:

• Iron deficiency in children is quantitatively associated with altered T cell subsets, affecting immune status.
• A correlation exists between the severity of hematological and immunological compromise in iron deficiency.
• These findings underscore the clinical and epidemiological significance of addressing iron deficiency, the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency globally.