The iron status of Black and white female adolescents from eight Southern states

Anemia in north of Iran (south-east of Caspian Sea)

The main purpose of this study was set up to determine iron deficiency and anemia due to iron deficiency among the women in villages around of Gorgan. The comparison of three groups (Fars-native, Turkman and Sistanee) that living in this area and comparison of pregnant and non-pregnant about hematological indexes are other objectives of this study. By random-clustering method were chosen 415 women of 18-35 years old in 20 villages of Gorgan. Gorgan district located in north of Iran and south-east of Caspian sea. In the pregnant women, serum Iron less than 30 microg dL(-1), Hemoglobin (Hb) less than 11 g dL(-1), transferrin saturation (T.S) less than 16% were be consider as anemia point and in non-pregnant women, this point is the serum iron less than 40 microg dL(-1), Hb less than 12 g dL(-1) and TS less than 16%. The prevalence of Iron Deficiency (ID), Anemia and Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) were 35.6% (149), 25.8% (107) and 13.5% (56), respectively. Positive correlation exist between serum Iron and Hb (p < 0.0001, r = 0.335), HCT (p < 0.01, r = 0.1581), MCH (p < 0.01, r = 0.1661) and MCHC (p < 0.001, r = 0.262). The prevalence of ID in Fars-native, Turkman and Sistanee women were 33.6, 47.6 and 26.2%, respectively. The rate of anemia on the same women were 27.7, 18.75 and 22.33% and IAD were 15.6, 11.9 and 11.3%, respectively. Chi2-test showed a meaningful difference in regard to ID and anemia among the three groups of women (p < 0.005). A statistical significant correlation was seen between Hb and MCHC (r = 0.467, p < 0.001). In pregnant women, the prevalence of the anemia on the basis of serum iron index, T.S and Hb were seen 24.2, 42.4 and 18.2%, respectively, versus non-pregnant women were 21.2, 34.55 and 20.98%. In summary, can be concluded that the prevalence of anemia its characteristic also is one of the women nutritional problems in the villages around the Gorgan and it is different among the three groups of women and in Fars-native is higher than other groups. Too, anemia is a nutritional problem in pregnant women.

Iron status of adolescent female athletes

To determine whether or not adolescent female athletes were more in need of routine dietary iron supplements than their nonathlete peers, the iron status of 32 athletes and 31 nonathletes was assessed. The athletes were track-team members in the middle of their season. Hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin were evaluated, as well as the amount of dietary iron intake. Athletes had significantly lower serum ferritin levels and transferrin saturation (less than 16%) than did nonathletes. Black girls were significantly lower than whites on all three values. There were also a greater number of black girls deficient in serum ferritin. We conclude that athletes may be at greater risk for iron deficiency and, therefore, for iron deficiency anemia; and black adolescents may have an increased prevalence of iron deficiency, with black female athletes being at potentially greater risk for iron deficiency and its possible consequences. We recommend a more sensitive assessment of iron status in female athletes.