Institute of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (1518 Views)
Fifty young students, 39 females and 21 males with the Mean ages of 19 - 23 years, were studied to determine if hemoglobin and serum iron differences existed between the two groups and if so whether they were due to dissimilar nutrient intakes. Each subject kept a four day dietary diary and provided a fasting blood sample on the last day of the diary recording. The energy , protein and iron intakes were calculated from the local food composition table.The Mean Rb of women and men were respectively 13.7 ± 1.67 and 14.8±1.32 g/100 and serum iron level were 68.5 and 82.2 mg/100 ml. The Rb and serum iron levels of females were significantly lower than the males. The average energy, protein and iron intakes of women were also showed lower consumption comparing with men. 54 percent of the females had iron intake lower than the RDA (16-18 mg/day). There was a statistical significant positive correlation between the energy and iron intake. Therefore the low iron intake among the young females could be considered as a consequence of a decrease in their daily energy intake.