Serum Hepcidin and Soluble Transferrin Receptor in the Assessment of Iron Metabolism in Children on a Vegetarian Diet.
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of vegetarian diet on iron metabolism parameters paying special attention to serum hepcidin and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) concentrations in 43 prepubertal children (age range 4.5-9.0 years) on vegetarian and in 46 children on omnivorous diets. There were no significant differences according to age, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) between vegetarian and omnivorous children. Vegetarians had similar intake of iron and vitamin B12and a significantly higher intake of vitamin C (p < 0.05) compared with non-vegetarians. Hematologic parameters and serum iron concentrations were within the reference range in both groups of children. Serum transferrin levels were similar in all subjects; however, ferritin concentrations were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in vegetarians than in omnivores. In children on a vegetarian diet, median hepcidin levels were lower (p < 0.05) but sTfR concentrations significantly higher (p < 0.001) compared with omnivorous children. In the multivariate regression model, we observed associations between hepcidin level and ferritin concentration (β = 0.241, p = 0.05) in the whole group of children as well as between hepcidin concentration and CRP level (β = 0.419, p = 0.047) in vegetarians. We did not find significant associations with concentration of sTfR and selected biochemical, anthropometric, and dietary parameters in any of the studied groups of children. As hematologic parameters and iron concentrations in vegetarians and omnivores were comparable and ferritin level was lower in vegetarians, we suggest that inclusion of novel markers, in particular sTfR (not cofounded by inflammation) and hepcidin, can better detect subclinical iron deficiency in children following vegetarian diets.
Screening Department, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17A, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland. jagoda.ambroszkiewicz@imid.med.pl.
Jadwiga
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7320-7561
J
Ambroszkiewicz
Department of Nutrition, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17A, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.
Witold
W
Klemarczyk
Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17A, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.
Joanna
J
Mazur
Screening Department, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17A, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.
Joanna
J
Gajewska
Department of Nutrition, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17A, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.
Grażyna
G
Rowicka
Department of Nutrition, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17A, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.
Małgorzata
M
Strucińska
Screening Department, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17A, 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.
Magdalena
M
Chełchowska
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000208:ethnology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003611:Dairy Products; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000208:ethnology; D004531:Eggs; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000208:ethnology; D011044:Poland; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage
D015415:Biomarkers; C578702:HAMP protein, human; D064451:Hepcidins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
Children; Hepcidin; Soluble transferin receptor; vegetarian diet