[Comparison of transferrin receptor between child-bearing period women and children].
To compare plasma TfR, ferritin concentrations and their ratios in children and child-bearing period women and look for correlation between TfR concentration and other measures of iron status.


METHODS
Our study groups were healthy 3-6-year-old preschool girls (n = 109), 11-12-year-old prepubertal girls (n = 133) and 20-45-year-old childbearing period women (n = 115). Plasma TfR concentration, SF concentration and TfR/SD were compared in different groups. The correlation of TfR and other indexes were studied.


RESULTS
TfR concentrarions were higer in preschool girls [(23.34 +/- 6.78) nmol/L] than in prepubertal girls [(21.33 +/- 5.30) nmol/L] and higher in prepubertal girls than in childbearing period women [(19.86 +/- 4.83) nmol/L]. SF concentrations were higher in prepubertal girls [(60.37 +/- 33.39) microg/ L] than in child-bearing women [(57.17 +/- 29.81) microg/L] and higher in child-bearing women than in preschool girls [(47.83 +/- 24.49) microg/L]. TfR/SF ration were higer in preschool girls (0.72 +/- 0.83) than in prepubertal girls (0.48 +/- 0.47) and higher in prepubertal girls than in child-bearing period women (0.47 +/- 0.37). By multiple regression analysis, the predictors of TfR concentration were plasma ferritin, hemaglobin and age.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma ferritin, Hb and age, even within the normal physiologic SF, Hb, influence TfR concentrations. The lower the iron stores, the stronger the influence of ferritin on TfR. The TfR concentrations are higher in children than adults respongsing to physiologically low iron stores in children.
Li
Jian-Hong
JH
Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese CDC, Beijing 10050, China.
Yang
Li-Chen
LC
Piao
Jian-Hua
JH
Dong
Jie
J
Yang
Xiaoguang
X
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron