title: Iron status in young Danes. Evaluation by serum ferritin and haemoglobin in a population survey of 634 individuals aged 14-23 yr.
abstract: Iron status was assessed by serum ferritin and haemoglobin in a population survey comprising 634 randomly selected urban Danes (312 males, 322 females) 14-23 yr old. At all ages, males had significantly higher serum ferritin and haemoglobin values than females. Males: median serum ferritin displayed a steady increase with age from 33 to 109 micrograms/l (rs = 0.53, p < 0.0001). The prevalence of absent mobilizable body iron stores (serum ferritin < 13 micrograms/l) was 3.5% at 16-17 yr of age, gradually declining to 0% at 22-23 yr. None of the males had iron deficiency anaemia (serum ferritin < 13 micrograms/l and haemoglobin < 129 g/l). Females: median ferritin values displayed a slight increase with age from 28 to 39 micrograms/l (rs = 0.19, p < 0.001). The prevalence of absent iron stores was 12.5% at 16-17 yr of age, declining to 6.6% at 22-23 yr. The prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (serum ferritin < 13 micrograms/l and haemoglobin < 121 g/l) was 4.7% at 16-17 yr of age, declining to 1.3% at 22-23 yr of age. Compared with surveys in other parts of Scandinavia, young Danes had slightly higher serum ferritin levels, and a lower prevalence of iron deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Naestved Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milman
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ulrik
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Graudal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jordal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron