IRON STATUS IN A HEALTHY POPULATION OF HUNGARIAN SECONDARY-SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS

Iron status was assessed in a sample of 103 male and 282 female studen ts aged from 15 to 18 years attending secondary schools in Budapest, U sing a ferritin model, in boys the prevalence of iron depletion, iron- deficient erythropoiesis and iron-deficient anemia was 3.9, 2.9 and 1. 0%, respectively. In girls these values were 9.6, 8.2 and 2.8%, respec tively, Males had better eating habits than females, Data for nutrient s intake connected with iron status are discussed. The authors recomme nd the improvement of iron status by dietary means and oppose the indi scriminate iron supplementation.