Anaemia and iron status of symptom-free adult males in northern Nigeria.

Abstract

The prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency have been evaluated in 276 symptom-free male inhabitants of northern Nigeria. One hundred and eighteen were classified as non-elite and 158 as elite. Twenty-six of the elite had a high consumption of alcohol, and have been considered as a separate sub-group. Measurements included haemoglobin (Hb), serum iron (SI), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) and serum ferritin (SF). The prevalence of anaemia (Hb less than 13.0 g dl-1) was considerably higher in non-elite (35.6%) than in 132 non-alcohol drinking elites (7.0%), while none of the alcohol drinkers was anaemic. The geometric mean SF was 54.6 micrograms l-1 in the non-elites, 100.6 micrograms l-1 in the non-drinking elites and 149.3 micrograms l-1 in the alcohol-drinkers. Iron deficiency [at least two of transferrin saturation (TS) less than or equal to 20%, FEP greater than or equal to 70 micrograms dl-1 and SF less than or equal to 30 micrograms l-1] was diagnosed in 15.3% of the non-elites and in only 1.3% of the elites. Iron deficiency in the non-elites probably resulted from poor availability of iron from the local staples guinea corn (Sorghum spp.) and millet (Pennisetum spp.), with chronic haemorrhage due to helminthic infestations contributing in some. Evidence of iron overload (TS greater than 90%, SF greater than 600 micrograms l-1 was found in two of the drinkers, one of whom had a history of prolonged consumption of burukutu, a beer locally brewed from cereals.