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Iron Status Among Children Aged 6-17 Years by Serum Ferritin - China, 2016-2017
Lijuan Wang1, Junsheng Huo1, Di Chen1
1National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Trace Element Nutrition, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China.
Insights
Iron deficiency is common in children, with higher prevalence in adolescent females. Monitoring iron status and implementing iron-rich food interventions are crucial for public health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health Surveillance
- Micronutrient Deficiencies
Background:
- Iron deficiency (ID) is a widespread global health issue, particularly affecting children.
- Consequences of ID in children include impaired cognitive development and psychomotor delays, necessitating iron status monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence and patterns of iron deficiency among school-aged children in China.
- To identify specific demographic groups at higher risk for iron deficiency.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of serum ferritin (SF) levels from 65,293 children aged 6-17 years.
- Data collected from the National Nutrition and Health Surveillance in China (2016-2017).
- Prevalence calculated using SF thresholds of <15 ng/mL and <25 ng/mL.
Main Results:
- The overall mean serum ferritin level was 56.6 ng/mL.
- Iron deficiency prevalence varied significantly by sex, age, and region, ranging from 1.0% to 28.1%.
- Adolescent females (12-17 years) exhibited the highest prevalence of iron deficiency.
Conclusions:
- Iron deficiency is a significant public health concern in Chinese school children, with notable variations across subgroups.
- Targeted interventions, particularly iron-rich food strategies, are recommended for high-risk groups, especially adolescent females.
- Findings support evidence-based policy development for ID and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) control.
What Is Already Known On This Topic?:
Iron deficiency (ID) is the most widespread micronutrient deficiency and have several adverse effects on health. Consequences of ID among children include delayed psychomotor development and impaired cognitive performance, which makes it important to monitor the iron status of children.
What Is Added By This Report?:
In this study, the serum ferritin (SF) level was 56.6 (95% CI: 56.0-57.2) ng/mL in 65,293 children aged 6-17 years old in the National Nutrition and Health Surveillance in China in 2016-2017. ID prevalence varied significantly in children stratified by sex, age, and regions ranging from 1.0% to 28.1% judged by the standard of SF<15 ng/mL and SF<25 ng/mL. ID prevalence in females aged 12-17 years was the highest among children aged 6-17 years.
What Are The Implications For Public Health Practice?:
Understanding iron status of school children could provide evidence and data for developing policies and strategies for ID and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) control and prevention. Females aged 12-17 years showed high ID prevalence, and iron-rich food interventions are strongly recommended.
