Prevalence of iron deficiency among Inuit preschool children attending childcare centres in Nunavik (632.8)

Abstract

In infants and children, iron deficiency (ID) can have several adverse effects on health including lethargy, alterations of immune defense mechanisms and impaired growth and cognitive development. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of ID in a group of preschool Inuit children attending childcare centres in Nunavik using conventional measurements of iron status and a relatively new parameter, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR). sTfR is especially useful in the presence of inflammation or infection. Two hundred forty‐five Inuit children aged between 11 and 54 months (mean (SD) = 25.0 (9.6) months) were recruited between 2006 and 2010 in 10 of the 14 Nunavik communities. About half of the children were male and 52.3% (n=128) were less than 24 months old at the time of the study. Sixty‐five children were excluded because they lacked one or more of the parameters under analysis, leaving 180 subjects for the assessment of iron status. ID defined either as serum ferritin <15 mg/L, sTfR >1.55 or sTfR‐ferritin index (sTfR/log ferritin) >1.5 was found in 73.2% of subjects. Anemia (hemoglobin (Hb) <110 g/L (12‐35 months old) or <112 g/L (36‐59 months old)) was present in 15% of children, while 7.2% suffered from iron deficiency anemia (IDA) (ID and C‐reactive protein (CRP) <6 mg/L), and 5% from IDA and coexisting anemia of inflammation (ID and CRP 蠅6 mg/L). Iron deficiency constitutes a significant public health problem in these Canadian Aboriginal children. Measures to improve iron intake and bioavailability are required and consumption of traditional foods rich in iron must be encouraged.Grant Funding Source: Supported by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada & Kativik Regional Government