Plasma Hepcidin Levels in Healthy Children from Chandigarh, Northern India

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Biochemistry
• Hematology

Background:

• Hepcidin is a critical peptide hormone regulating iron metabolism.
• Understanding normal hepcidin levels is essential for diagnosing iron-related disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the normal reference ranges for plasma hepcidin concentrations in healthy children from Chandigarh, Northern India.
• To establish age-specific and sex-specific hepcidin ranges for pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

• Plasma samples were collected from 50 healthy children in Chandigarh, Northern India.
• Hepcidin levels were measured using a validated assay.
• Data were analyzed to establish mean, standard deviation, and ranges for different age groups and sexes.

Main Results:

• Normal hepcidin ranges were established: 19.96-36.6 ng/mL for children aged 0-2 years and 9.54-36.15 ng/mL for children aged 2-6 years.
• The mean hepcidin level was 32.5 (4.84) ng/mL for 0-2 years and 31.13 (6.62) ng/mL for 2-6 years.
• Mean hepcidin levels were comparable between boys (31.01 ± 6.71 ng/mL) and girls (32.7 ± 4.14 ng/mL).

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first reference ranges for plasma hepcidin in healthy North Indian children.
• These established ranges are vital for the accurate clinical assessment of iron status and related conditions in pediatric patients.
• The findings support the use of hepcidin as a biomarker for iron homeostasis in Indian children.