title: Iron deficiency, inflammatory processes and humoral immunity in children.
abstract: Indicators of iron status, markers of inflammatory processes, serum immunoglobulins and C3 and C4 components of complement were assessed in 142 children 10-months old. All the iron parameters and most of the indicators of humoral immunity were correlated with markers of inflammation. Sixty-two children presented biochemical indications of inflammation (high CRP or orosomucoid level, or hyperleukocytosis), while 80 children were free of it. In the latter group, the use of a combination of iron indicators enabled separation of iron-sufficient children from those with different degrees of iron deficiency, ranging from iron depletion to iron-deficiency anemia. Serum IgG and IgA were significantly lower only in the group of iron-depleted children. Serum ferritin was significantly positively correlated with IgA, IgM and C4. Iron depletion may be responsible for a decrease humoral immunity. This effect was not visible at more advanced stages of iron deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche sur les Anémies Nutritionnelles, Institut Scientifique et Technique de l'Alimentation, Paris.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davila
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mekki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hercberg
mesh_terms: D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000032:analysis; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins