Increased Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children with Zinc Deficiency

The aim of the present study is to determine the presence of iron (Fe) deficiency and Fe deficiency anemia in children with zinc (Zn) deficiency.

This retrospective study comprised 560 patients aged 6 months to 16 years in whom Zn levels in hair samples were measured concurrently with serum levels of ferritin, Fe, Fe-binding capacity, and blood count analysis. For all patients, we retrospectively assessed serum ferritin, serum Fe, Fe-binding capacity, transferrin saturation index, red blood cell count, hemoglobin levels, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and red cell distribution width (RDW). Patients were divided into two groups according to the level of the hair Zn level as Zn deficiency (hair Zn level <100 µg/g) and without Zn deficiency (hair Zn level >100 µg/g). Data were analyzed to determine whether there was a significant difference between any of these parameters and the presence of Fe deficiency and Fe deficiency anemia between patients with and without Zn deficiency.

A total of 238 patients had Zn levels <100 µg/g, and 322 patients had Zn levels >100 µg/g. The median ferritin level was 16.2 (9.8-24.9) ng/mL in the Zn-deficient group and 18.7 (12-29.3) ng/mL in those without Zn deficiency group. The presence of Fe deficiency was higher in the Zn deficiency group (60.1%) than in the without Zn deficiency group (50%; p<0.05). The presence of Fe deficiency anemia was significantly higher in the Zn deficiency group (20.2%) than in the without Zn deficiency group (12.7%; p<0.05). There were very weak negative significant correlation between hair Zn and RDW level (r=-0.24; p<0.001) and weak positive correlation between hair Zn and MCV (r=0.31; p<0.001).

Fe deficiency and Fe deficiency anemia increased in patients with zinc deficiency.