A Study of Iron Status and Anemia in Female High School Students in Ulsan

Hong, Soon Myung; Hwang, Hye Jin; Park, Sang Kyu

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the iron nutritional status and anemia of high school students. 383 female subjects in Ulsan Metropolitan city were evaluated using a questionnaire, and a measurement of hematological indices. The average height and weight of the respondents were 161.24+/-4.90 cm and 53.12+/-6.37 kg, repectively. The average BMI(body mass index) was 20.43+/-2.26 which was in the normal ramge. The average hemoglobin(Hb) concentration of the subjects was 13.14+/-0.97g/dl, and the average hematocrit(Hct) level was 40.84+/-17.40%. Transferrin saturation{TS(%)} was 20.86+/-10.32%, and the ferritin by Hct(<36%), 27.2%by TS(<14%),26.6% by ferritin(<12 ng/ml). As for clinical symptoms, the greatest number of respondents reported that they experienced 'decreased ability to concectrate'. Mean daily intakes of iron were 14.89+/-4.48 mg and heme iron intakes were 5.04+/-2.13 mg, which was 29.6% of total iron intake. The total iron binding capacity(TIBC) was negatively correlated with Hb concentration(r= -0.222, p<0.01). Serum ferritin was positively correlated with Hb concentration(r= - 0.323, p<0.05) and negatively correlated with TIBC(r= -0.367, p<0.01). TS(%) was positively correlated with Hb concentration(r= 0.402, p<0.01) and positively correlated with serum ferritin(r=0.413, p<0.01). As for the correlation between blood biochemistry and clinical symptoms related to anemia, the Hb concentration was negatively correlated with 'shortening of breath when going upstairs(p>0.05)' and 'cold hands and feet' significantly(r= -0.109, p<0.05). The level of Mean corpuscular volume(MCV) was negatively correlated with 'feel dizzy when standing up', 'tired out easily', and 'decrease ability to concentrate' significantly(p<0.05). In particular, the level of Fe was negatively correlated with 'shortening of breath when going upstairs' and 'feeling blue' significantly(p<0.01). These results suggest That the prevalence of iron deficiency of female high school students is very high, therefore guidelin......