title: Anaemia, iron deficiency and a common polymorphism of iron-regulation, TMPRSS6 rs855791, in Rwandan children.
abstract: Anaemia in children living in sub-Saharan Africa is common, but its causes are diverse. In 545 children below 5 years of age from rural southern Rwanda, we assessed the role of iron deficiency (ID) and of the TMPRSS6 736(V) (rs855791) allele, known to reduce iron status and haemoglobin (Hb) levels, in anaemia and Hb concentrations. Anaemia (Hb <11 g/dl) was present in 34.4% of the children and ID (ferritin <12 ng/ml) in 17.6%. The TMPRSS6 736(V) allele was uncommon (allele frequency, 0.096) and not associated with ID. In multivariate analysis, ID was positively associated with anaemia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.67) to an extent comparable with α(+) -thalassaemia, breastfeeding, inflammation and low household income, but the odds were substantially higher in Plasmodium falciparum infection (adjusted odds ratio, 10.3). These findings were verified in a multivariate analysis of Hb concentrations. The TMPRSS6 736(V) allele only tended to be associated with low Hb levels. TMPRSS6 736(V) is comparatively rare among Rwandan children and may only slightly contribute to low Hb concentrations. Preventable causes of anaemia, notably ID and P. falciparum infection, largely outweigh its impact and need to be addressed to improve the haematological status of children in the study area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany.
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Danquah
authors.forename: Jean-Bosco
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gahutu
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zeile
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Musemakweri
authors.forename: Frank P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Mockenhaupt
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011203:Poverty; D012432:Rwanda; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D007501:Iron; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C504318:TMPRSS6 protein, human
keywords: Rwanda; TMPRSS6; anaemia; iron deficiency