Abstract

This study was designed to assess the iron nutritional status and anemia of high school students. 383 female subjects in Ulsan Metropolitan city were evaluated using a questionnaire, and a measurement of hematological indices. The average height and weight of the respondents were 161.24$\pm$4.90 cm and 53.12$\pm$6.37kg, repectively. The average BMI(body mass index) was 20.43$\pm$2.26 which was in the normal ramge. The average hemoglobin(Hb) concentration of the subjects was 13.14$\pm$0.97g/dl, and the average hematocrit(Hct) level was 40.84$\pm$17.40%. Transferrin saturation{TS(%)} was 20.86$\pm$10.32%, and the ferritin by Hct(＜36%), 27.2%by TS(＜14%),26.6% by ferritin(＜12 ng/ml). As for clinical symptoms, the greatest number of respondents reported that they experienced ‘decreased ability to concectrate’. Mean daily intakes of iron were 14.89$\pm$4.48 mg and heme iron intakes were 5.04$\pm$2.13 mg, which was 29.6% of total iron intake. The total iron binding capacity(TIBC) was negatively correlated with Hb concentration(r= -0.222, p＜0.01). Serum ferritin was positively correlated with Hb concentration(r= - 0.323, p＜0.05) and negatively correlated with TIBC(r= -0.367, p＜0.01). TS(%) was positively correlated with Hb concentration(r= 0.402, p＜0.01) and positively correlated with serum ferritin(r=0.413, p＜0.01). As for the correlation between blood biochemistry and clinical symptoms related to anemia, the Hb concentration was negatively correlated with ‘shortening of breath when going upstairs(p＞0.05)’ and ‘cold hands and feet’ significantly(r= -0.109, p＜0.05). The level of Mean corpuscular volume(MCV) was negatively correlated with ‘feel dizzy when standing up’,‘tired out easily’, and ‘decrease ability to concentrate’ significantly(p＜0.05). In particular, the level of Fe was negatively correlated with ‘shortening of breath when going upstairs’ and ‘feeling blue’ significantly(p＜0.01). These results suggest That the prevalence of iron deficiency of female high school students is very high, therefore guidelines for diet supports and nutrition education to improve their iron status should be provided.

• Keywords: iron status; iron deficient anemia; hemoglibin; hematocrit; serum ferritin; heme iron; nonheme iron;