SERUM FERRITIN IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS - RESULTS FROM POPULATION SURVEYS IN 1979 AND 1986 COMPRISING 1312 INDIVIDUALS

Iron stores were assessed by measurement of serum ferritin in a popula tion survey comprising 436 randomly selected urban Danish schoolchildr en (219 boys, 217 girls) 7 to 17 years old. Median ferritin values wer e similar in buys and girls 7 to 13 years old, while 14- to 17-year-ol d boys had significantly higher values than girls of similar age (p < 0.0001). Boys had stable median ferritin Values from 7 to 15 years of age, after which a significant rise was found from 16 to 17 years of a ge (p < 0.01). Girls had unchanged median ferritin Values from 7 to 11 years of age, after which a significant decrease was found from 12 to 17 years of age (p < 0.01). The frequencies of low ferritin values (1 6 mu g/l (indicating absent iron stores) were: Children 7 to 11 years, 1.0%. Boys 12 to 15 years, 4.5%; 16 to 17 years, 0%. Girls 12 to 15 y ears, 7.6%; 16 to 17 years, 16.7%. Ferritin levers in the reported 198 6 survey were significantly higher than those obtained in a similar su rvey in the same area in 1979. The results indicate an overall increas e in iron stores in Danish schoolchildren and adolescents during 1979- 1986, possibly due to an increase in the consumption of meat, and in t he use of vitamin-mineral supplements containing iron.