Usefulness of serum ferritin levels in the assessment of iron status in non-pregnant Zairean women of childbearing age

We studied the usefulness of serum ferritin for the assessment of iron deficiency (ID) or ID anaemia (IDA) of 186 lactating and 27 non-lactating Zairean women (15-45 years old). Haemoglobin (Hb), serum iron (SI), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation (TS) were also measured. Participants were recruited in rural Bas-Zaire State in the summers of 1986 and 1989. Serum ferritin ranged from 10 to 360 micrograms l-1 (median 62 micrograms l-1) in lactating women and from 14.2 to 120 micrograms l-1 (median 40 micrograms l-1) in non-lactating women. While mean levels of serum ferritin and TS were within the normal range in both groups of women, those of Hb were below normal (< 12 g dl-1), partly due to inflammation. The prevalence of anaemia was 66% in lactating women and 70% in non-lactating women, and did not change with time. It was higher in women with inflammation than in those without inflammation. Although ID (ferritin < 12 micrograms l-1) was almost absent, after raising the cut-off point of ferritin to 50 micrograms l-1 in women with inflammation, it was present in 28.8% of lactating women and 52% of non-lactating women. While the prevalence of ID assessed by serum ferritin was significantly higher in lactating women studied in 1989 (40.5%) than in those studied in 1986 (13.5%), it was similar in both groups of non-lactating women. ID defined by TS < 16% was present in 41% of lactating women and 21% of non-lactating women. In the presence as well as absence of inflammation, the use of TS identified a higher percentage of lactating women with either ID or IDA than did the use of serum ferritin. We conclude that, in the studied population, unless inflammation is taken into consideration, serum ferritin has a limited value in the diagnosis of ID.

Effect of a milk-based food supplement on maternal nutritional status and fetal growth in underweight Chilean women

The effects on pregnancy outcome and maternal iron status of powdered milk (PUR) and a milk-based fortified product (V-N) were compared in a group of underweight gravidas. These take-home products were distributed during regular prenatal visits. Women in the V-N group had greater weight gain (12.29 vs 11.31 kg, p less than 0.05) and mean birth weights (3178 vs 3105 g, p less than 0.05) than those in the PUR group. Values for various indicators of maternal Fe status were also higher in the V-N group. Compared with self-selected noncompliers, similar in all control variables to compliers, children of women who consumed powdered milk or the milk-based fortified product had mean birth weights that were higher by 258 and 335 g, respectively. Data indicate a beneficial effect of the fortified product on both maternal nutritional status and fetal growth.

Iron depletion and anaemia: prevalence, consequences, diagnostic and therapeutic implications in a developing Pakistani population

The prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in Karachi, Pakistan, was examined in a group of 100 children, aged 2 to 6 years, and 200 adult females, aged 17 to 35 years. Anaemia, defined as a haemoglobin level less than 11.5 g/dl, was present in 47% of the children and 30% of the adult females. The majority of subjects had normal red cell counts and MCV, but haematocrit and MCH were below normal in one-quarter of the children and one-third of the adult females. More than half of both children and adult females had serum ferritin levels below normal. Many also had elevated iron binding capacity and reduced serum iron levels. Iron deficiency may be superimposed on folate deficiency in this population. The potentially serious consequences and higher prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in children and women of childbearing age demand greater efforts toward diagnosis and eradication in developing countries.

Predictive value of serum ferritin in anemia development after insertion of T Cu 220 intrauterine device

A one-year follow-up study in 30 healthy women was undertaken to study serum ferritin as well as other hematological parameters prior, six and twelve months after insertion of an intrauterine device, T Cu 220. Women were allocated into one of two groups according to the baseline ferritin serum levels; Group I abnormal ferritin and Group II normal ferritin levels. Other hematological parameters were normal and no iron supplement was given throughout the study. A direct relationship between low ferritin serum values (Group I), and anemia development was found. Seven out of 15 developed anemia, whereas only 2 out of 15 had anemia at twelve months in Group II with normal ferritin values. The overall data suggested that measurement of serum ferritin levels could be a useful tool to anticipate anemia development in women with intrauterine devices.