Hemoglobin levels and dietary iron in pubescent children in a biracial community.

Although differences in hemoglobin levels between blacks and whites may be due in part to genetic influences, low hemoglobin levels in black girls of childbearing age may nevertheless constitute a health hazard. To study this problem, hemoglobin levels were examined in children of a biracial community not only before but also during and after puberty and menarche. At the same time, 24-hour dietary recalls of a representative group of 13-year-olds in the same population were examined with respect to the intake of iron and nutrients influencing iron absorption. In black girls, hemoglobin levels dropped after menarche, accompanied by a diet marginal in iron and in iron-absorption-promoting nutrients. Questions as to hemoglobin levels compatible with optimum health remain, and racial differences and genetic influences on levels should not be an excuse for failure to address this problem. More investigational studies are also needed to observe responses to an optimum dietary iron intake.