IRON STATUS IN YOUNG DANES - EVALUATION BY SERUM FERRITIN AND HEMOGLOBIN IN A POPULATION SURVEY OF 634 INDIVIDUALS AGED 14-23 YR

Iron status was assessed by serum ferritin and haemoglobin in a popula tion survey comprising 634 randomly selected urban Danes (312 males, 3 22 females) 14-23 yr old. At all ages, males had significantly higher serum ferritin and haemoglobin values than females. Males: median seru m ferritin displayed a steady increase with age from 33 to 109 mu g/l (r(s)=0.53, p<0.0001). The prevalence of absent mobilizable body iron stores (serum ferritin <13 mu g/l) was 3.5% at 16-17 yr of age, gradua lly declining to 0% at 22-23 yr. None of the males had iron deficiency anaemia (serum ferritin <13 mu g/l and haemoglobin <129 g/l). Females : median ferritin values displayed a slight increase with age from 28 to 39 mu g/l (r(s)=0.19, p<0.001). The prevalence of absent iron store s was 12.5% at 16-17 yr of age, declining to 6.6% at 22-23 yr. The pre valence of iron deficiency anaemia (serum ferritin <13 mu g/l and haem oglobin < 121 g/l) was 4.7% at 16-17 yr of age, declining to 1.3% at 2 2-23 yr of age. Compared with surveys in. other parts of Scandinavia, young Danes had slightly higher serum ferritin levels, and a lower pre valence of iron deficiency.