Dineo V Phatlhane1, Annalise E Zemlin2, Tandi E Matsha3, Mariza Hoffmann4, Nasheen Naidoo5, Kitoshi Ichihara6, Francois Smit7, Rajiv T Erasmus8. 1. Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: Dineo.Phatlhane@nhls.ac.za. 2. Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: azemlin@sun.ac.za. 3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa. Electronic address: matshat@cput.ac.za. 4. Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: mariza@sun.ac.za. 5. Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: nnaidoo@outlook.com. 6. Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan. Electronic address: ichihara@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp. 7. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa; PathCare Laboratories, Mediclinic Vergelegen, Somerset West, South Africa. Electronic address: smitfc@afrihost.co.za. 8. Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: rte@sun.ac.za.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Iron deficiency is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, can present with or without haematological changes and is a major cause of microcytic anaemia. In South Africa and Africa in general, there is a paucity of studies on the iron status of healthy adult non pregnant females and males >18years of age. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency in a healthy South African population. METHODS: A total of 651 healthy adults >18years were included in the study. Blood samples were taken for the determination of iron status, haematological and inflammatory parameters. A ferritin level of <30μg/L was used to define iron deficiency and these subjects were further divided into those with and without anaemia. Diet and menstrual history in females was further investigated. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of anaemia was 12.6% and iron deficiency was found in 78% of anaemic subjects. The prevalence of iron deficiency was 39.8% in all participants and females and Black Africans had a very high prevalence of 56.6% and 50.7% respectively. Significant (p<0.05) differences were found in concentrations of ferritin, haemoglobin, iron, transferrin, transferrin saturation, MCV and MCH between the groups. CONCLUSION: Anaemia is a minor health problem but a large proportion of subjects with iron deficiency do not present with anaemia. The prevalence of iron deficiency was high especially in females and Black African participants.
INTRODUCTION:Iron deficiency is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, can present with or without haematological changes and is a major cause of microcytic anaemia. In South Africa and Africa in general, there is a paucity of studies on the iron status of healthy adult non pregnant females and males >18years of age. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency in a healthy South African population. METHODS: A total of 651 healthy adults >18years were included in the study. Blood samples were taken for the determination of iron status, haematological and inflammatory parameters. A ferritin level of <30μg/L was used to define iron deficiency and these subjects were further divided into those with and without anaemia. Diet and menstrual history in females was further investigated. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of anaemia was 12.6% and iron deficiency was found in 78% of anaemic subjects. The prevalence of iron deficiency was 39.8% in all participants and females and Black Africans had a very high prevalence of 56.6% and 50.7% respectively. Significant (p<0.05) differences were found in concentrations of ferritin, haemoglobin, iron, transferrin, transferrin saturation, MCV and MCH between the groups. CONCLUSION:Anaemia is a minor health problem but a large proportion of subjects with iron deficiency do not present with anaemia. The prevalence of iron deficiency was high especially in females and Black African participants.
Authors: Susan J van Rensburg; Coenraad Hattingh; Clint Johannes; Kelebogile E Moremi; Armand V Peeters; Carel J van Heerden; Rajiv T Erasmus; Annalise E Zemlin; Merlisa C Kemp; Mariaan Jaftha; Aye Aye Khine; Felix C V Potocnik; Lindiwe Whati; Penelope Engel-Hills; Ronald van Toorn; Maritha J Kotze Journal: Metab Brain Dis Date: 2021-03-12 Impact factor: 3.584
Authors: Collin F Payne; Justine I Davies; F Xavier Gomez-Olive; Katherine J Hands; Kathleen Kahn; Lindsay C Kobayashi; Brent Tipping; Stephen M Tollman; Alisha Wade; Miles D Witham Journal: J Epidemiol Community Health Date: 2018-04-21 Impact factor: 3.710
Authors: Eunice Turawa; Oluwatoyin Awotiwon; Muhammad Ali Dhansay; Annibale Cois; Demetre Labadarios; Debbie Bradshaw; Victoria Pillay-van Wyk Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-12-04 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Elizabeth A Symington; Jeannine Baumgartner; Linda Malan; Amy J Wise; Cristian Ricci; Lizelle Zandberg; Cornelius M Smuts Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-09-03 Impact factor: 3.240