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Correlation between blood lead concentration and iron deficiency in Iranian children
Mohammad Reza Keramati1, Lida Manavifar2, Zahra Badiee3
1Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran ; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Insights
This study found no correlation between blood lead concentration and iron deficiency in children in Mashhad, Iran. Further research is needed in areas with varying pollution levels to draw broader conclusions about lead toxicity and childhood anemia.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Environmental Toxicology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Iron deficiency anemia is a prevalent nutritional issue in children globally.
- Lead toxicity poses a significant environmental health risk, particularly in developing regions.
- Investigating the link between lead exposure and iron status in children is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the potential correlation between blood lead levels and iron deficiency indicators in children residing in Mashhad, Iran.
- To assess the relationship between lead intoxication and iron status parameters in a pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 223 children (aged 1-10 years) was conducted.
- Blood lead concentration, iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and ferritin levels were measured.
- Statistical analyses, including correlation coefficients, were employed to determine relationships.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in blood lead concentration was observed between control and patient groups.
- No correlation was found between blood lead concentration and iron status markers (hemoglobin, ferritin, iron, TIBC).
- Lead intoxication was present in all studied children.
Conclusions:
- The study did not establish a correlation between blood lead concentration and iron deficiency in the studied pediatric cohort.
- Given universal lead intoxication in the sample, further comparative studies in areas with differing pollution levels are recommended.
- Additional research is necessary to generalize findings regarding lead exposure and iron deficiency in children.
Background:
Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common nutritional anaemia among children. Lead toxicity is a serious health threat, especially in developing countries due to environmental pollution. It was thus aimed to investigate correlation between blood lead concentration and iron deficiency in children of Mashhad, Iran.
Materials And Methods:
This cross sectional study was performed on children between 1 year and 10 years, in Imam Reza teaching hospital of Mashhad, Iran, in 2010. Indeed during complete blood count (CBC), we measured iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) by colorimetric methods, ferritin by radioimmune assay and blood lead concentration by atomic absorption method. Results were analysed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (version 11.5), using statistical tests including independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson's or Spearman's correlation coefficient. P value ≤ 0.05 was considered as a significant level.
Results:
We studied 223 cases including 98 control children and 125 patients. All children had lead intoxication. Mean (±SD) blood lead concentration in the control group was 57.1 ± 25.3 (ranged 20-212) μg/dl and in the patient group was 57 ± 20.4 (ranged 10.9-159) μg/dl with no significant difference (P value = 0.713). We also did not find any correlation between blood lead concentration and haemoglobin, ferritin, iron, TIBC, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cells (WBC) and platelets.
Conclusion:
Based on these results, no correlation was found between blood lead concentration and iron deficiency in the children. Because all children had lead intoxication, further studies in highly polluted and a comparison with a low polluted area are necessary to make a general conclusion.
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