Assessment of the prevalence of iron, zinc and vitamin a deficiency among school-aged children

Coşkun Ekemen, Assessment of the Prevalence of Iron, Zinc and Vitamin A Deficiency among School-Aged Children, Bülent Ecevit University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Zonguldak, 2017 Introduction and Purpose: Iron, zinc and vitamin A are important micronutrients for the public health. These three micronutrients have effects on the cell division and differentiation, immunity, bone development, visual functions, intelligence and comprehension, maternal and infant mortality. In this study, we wanted to evaluate the prevalence of deficiencies of iron, zinc and vitamin A in 334 children and determine the interrelationship between the deficiencies. Material and Method: Values of serum iron, zinc and vitamin A and complete blood counts were analyzed in 334 healthy children between 6-14 years of age, including 174 girls and 160 boys, who applied to Bülent Ecevit Medical Faculty, Pediatric Outpatient Clinic. In addition to the evaluation of the prevalence of the deficiencies of iron, zinc and vitamin A, the deficiencies were studied in relation to gender, groups of ages, socioeconomic level and nourishment habits. The deficiency of iron was studied in relation between zinc deficiency and vitamin A deficiency. Moreover, a survey study, which included questions concerning socioeconomic level and nourishment habits, was carried out for the families in order to determine the etiology of the deficiencies. Findings: It is determined that there is iron deficiency in %49,7 (n=166), zinc deficiency in %18,9 (n=63), vitamin A deficiency in %14.7 (n=49) in 334 healthy children, 174 girls, 166 boys. There is no statistically meaningful result with respect to the deficiencies of iron, zinc and vitamin A when the findings are divided between 6-10 ages (n=205) and 11-14 ages (n=129). There is no statistically meaningful result with respect to the deficiencies of iron and vitamin A between girls and boys. The deficiency of zinc is found as %23,6 (n=41) in girls, %13,8 (n=22) in boys which is statistically meaningful (p=0,022). There is no statistically meaningful result between findings which is in deficiency of iron and not in deficiency of iron with respect to zinc deficiency and vitamin A deficiency. There is no statistically meaningful result between findings which is in deficiency of zinc and not in deficiency of zinc with respect to iron deficiency and vitamin A deficiency. There is no statistically meaningful result regarding the relationship between nourishment habits and socioeconomic levels and the deficiencies of iron, zinc and vitamin A. Discussion: As a result of this study, it is observed that there are deficiencies of iron, zinc and vitamin A even in healthy children. The amount of the deficiencies of iron and iron deficiency anemia are high in spite of the programs to reduce the deficiencies. Even though there is no meaningful relationship between the deficiencies of iron and zinc, the treatment of iron deficiency anemia should include the treatment of the deficiency of zinc in patients who do not respond to the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. Although this might not be necessary for all the cases of the deficiencies of iron, the treatment of zinc can be applied in cases where nourishment is not adequate or where the equipment in laboratories are not sufficient to test the deficiency of zinc. In order to provide a better hemoglobin response in patients with iron deficiency anemia with the deficiency of vitamin A, it might be better to use iron and vitamin A together. In developed countries, the deficiencies of micronutrients are under control. Our goal is to get these deficiencies under control in our country. Thus, before organizing nationwide public health programs in order to achieve this goal, the frequency of these deficiencies should be determined. Determining the frequency of the deficiencies of micronutrients in Turkey requires adequate case number and samples of different fragments of society. Key Words: Iron, Zinc, Vitamin A