Prevalence of hematinics deficiency amongst female students and its correction

Nutritional anemia (NA) is common in India. While iron deficiency (ID) is a well recognized cause of NA, prevalence of deficiencies of other hematinics is not systematically investigated.

Seventy students of a junior class of a polytechnic and 202 inmates of girl students home were taken up for study.

Students were given a questionnaire to elicit anemia related symptoms. Blood was collected for complete blood count (CBC), serum ferritin, folic acid and vitamin B12. Students of polytechnic received hematinic at bed time during their menstrual periods whereas inmates of students home received hematinic at bed time, 3 days in a week. After 6 months blood tests were repeated in those who completed the treatment. CBC was done on Coulter counter and ferritin, folic acid and vitamin B12 were assayed by chemiluminescence. Students were divided into three groups-(1) Control group with Hb 12.0 g/dl or more and ferritin 15.0 ng/ml or more; (2) ID Group with Hb 12.0 g/dl or more and ferritin less than 15.0 ng/ml; and (3) Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) group with Hb less tha 12.0 g/dl and ferritin less than 15.0 ng/ml.

Basal parameters of three groups were compared using students t test. Change in parameters with treatment was compared using paired students t test.

Median age-16 years (range 10-25). Anemia ( Hb < 12.0 g/dl)-94 (34.6%); MCV < 80 fl-153 (56.3%); MCH < 27 pg-167 (61.4%); Ferritin < 15.0 ng/ml-161 (59.2%); Folic acid < 3.5 ng/ml-34 (12.5%); Vitamin B12 < 258 pg/ml-133 (48.9%) Pre-therapy: (1) Hb, MCV, MCH and ferritin significantly lower in ID and IDA Groups compared to control group. (2) Hb, MCV, MCH and Ferritin significantly lower in IDA Group as compared to ID Group. POST-THERAPY: (1) IDA group showed significant increase in Hb, MCV, MCH, ferritin, folic acid and vitamin B12. (2) final Hb (11.26+1.07) and ferritin (7.46+4.81) in IDA Group were subnormal. (3) MCV, MCH, ferritin, folic acid and vitamin B12 increased significantly in ID Group and control group.

(1) Nutritional anemia is common amongst asymptomatic young female students. (2) Deficiencies of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 are common and coexist. (3) 105 mg elemental iron for 3 days in a week for 6 months is not adequate to correct IDA. (4) 105 mg iron for 3 days in a week is enough to correct ID. (5) Non-anemic individuals with ID have iron deficient erythropoiesis. (6) Non-anemic individuals without ID, in this cohort, also had iron deficient eryhtropoiesis.