Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of 5th grade school children with iron depletion or iron depleted anemia with simultaneously assessing their general nutritional status. The anthropometric measurements, nutrient intake, and biochemical status of iron were measured for 261 school children from 5th grade residing in low income area of Pucheon. The mean height and weight of male were 138.7 cm and 33.6 kg respectively and were significantly lower than those of female. Mean fat percent, triceps skinfolds thickness and arm circumference were 21.4%, 13.7 mm and 22.2 cm for female and were significantly higher than 19.1%, 11.4 mm, 21.4 cm of male respectively. The intake on vitamin A and calcium were 46.4% and 47.7% of RDA for male and 36.6% and 44.9% for male respectively. The energy intake, carbohydrate, thiamin, niacin, ascorbic acid of male were significantly higher than those of female respectively. The mean daily intake of iron were 7.5 mg for male and 7.3 mg for female and were not significantly different. The mean biochemical indices of iron nutritional status were not significantly different between male and female expect free erythrocyte protoporphyrin(FEP) and FEP : hemoglobin ratio. The proportion of male assessed by serum iron(<70 microgram/dl), Hb(<12g/dl), Hct(<36%), FEP(<70 microgram/dlRBC) were 25.4%, 8.4%, 0.8%, 1.8% respectively and 23.2%, 8.4%, 3.4%, 1.0% for female respectively.

• Keywords: school children; nutritional status; iron depleted anemia