title: [Incidence of iron deficiency in a sample-population of Frankfurt children (author's transl)].
abstract: Using customary hematological and biochemical criteria, peripheral iron deficiency was observed, depending on age, in 12-51% and anemia in up to 6%, in a sample of 337 children (age: 4 4 months to 10 years). The majority of children were well nourished. Since iron deficiency occurs even in these children, it appears to be important to study this situation in underpriviledged German children as well. Even after peripheral iron deficiency was excluded, hemoglobin concentration varied significantly with age. This has to be considered in order to avoid unnecessary iron medication, that, according to recent findings, could cause adverse effects. The data presented here, do not as yet justify a general iron fortification program for all infants in Germany. Iron research should be directed toward the relationship of iron nutrition and iron-related blood chemistry of children on the one hand, and general criteria of functional capacity, morbidity, and longivity on the other. It will only be possible to give rational definitions of what are normal iron and hemoglobin concentrations in childhood, when we know more about these relationships.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005860:Germany, West; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008017:Life Expectancy; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012016:Reference Values; D014168:Transferrin; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron
vernacular_title: Vorkommen von Eisenmangel bei einer Stichprobe Frankfurter Kinder.