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Interaction between anemia and blood levels of iron, zinc, copper, cadmium and lead in children

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Abstract

Objective

Anemia is a widespread problem among infants and children in many parts of the world, and it is often associated with some trace elements (iron, zinc, copper) and heavy metals (cadmium and lead). Aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anemia and these elements.

Methods

This research was performed on 256 children (mean age 6.8 ± 0.2) living in Denizli city center. We observed iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in 23 children, iron deficiency without anemia (ID) in 36 children and only anemia (ferritin level normal) (OA) in 18 children, and 179 children were found healthy and they were regarded as controls (C). Blood samples were taken from subjects and the concentrations of zinc, copper, iron, cadmium and lead in serum were measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Results

The levels of copper, cadmium and lead in serum were significantly higher in children with IDA than those of controls (p<0.05, p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). The other elements in the serum of ID were not different from controls.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey

    Sebahat Turgut, Günfer Turgut, Gülten Emmungil & Osman Genç

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey

    Aziz Polat, Murat Inan, Mevlüt Bican & Tugrul Yasin Karakus

Authors
  1. Sebahat Turgut
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  2. Aziz Polat
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  3. Murat Inan
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  4. Günfer Turgut
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  5. Gülten Emmungil
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  6. Mevlüt Bican
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  7. Tugrul Yasin Karakus
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  8. Osman Genç
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Correspondence to Sebahat Turgut.

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Turgut, S., Polat, A., Inan, M. et al. Interaction between anemia and blood levels of iron, zinc, copper, cadmium and lead in children. Indian J Pediatr 74, 827–830 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-007-0147-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-007-0147-2

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