[Study on iron store status for women in the poor rural areas in China from 2010 to 2012]

To quantitatively assess the concentration and the distribution of the body iron (BI) for women in the poor rural areas.

Resampling based on the blood sample of Nutrition and Health Survey in China from 2010 to 2012, serum ferritin (SF) and serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) were measured for the selected blood samples by immunoturbidimetric assay. BI was calculated, and the concentrations and distribution in different aged subgroup were assessed. Distribution of BI subgrouped in different aged women was compared. The correlations of BI to hemoglobin (Hb), SF and sTfR were analyzed.

The average levels of BI were (7.35 ± 2.37) mg/kg for schoolgirls aged 6-11 years, (6.50 ± 3.59) mg/kg for adolescent girls aged 12-17 years, (6.07 ± 4.78) mg/kg for women of childbearing aged 18-44 years, (8.60 ± 4.45) mg/kg for women aged 45-59 years, and (10.35 ± 3.38) mg/kg for elderly female aged ≥ 60 years, respectively. The proportion of low BI in the 12-17 years and 18-44 years women was the highest. BI level was positively correlated to SF and negatively correlated to sTfR (P < 0.01). BI level was positively correlated to Hb in the BI < 0 mg/kg subgroup.

The BI methodology allows the full range of iron status of populations to be evaluated. The iron status for adolesecent girls aged 12-17 years and women of childbearing aged 18-44 years should be improved.