Iron status of first year medical students at Gezira University

ABSTRACT

To determine the iron status of first-year medical students at Gezira University and identify influence of ethnic group and gender on the iron status. Cross-sectional community based study. The sample consisted of 160 students aged 16-20 years with a mean [ +/- SD] age 18.56 +/- 0.94 of both sexes [70 = males, 90 = females]. Blood samples were collected from each student and questionnaire was completed. Haemoglobin [Hb], packed cell volume [PCV], serum iron and total iron binding capacity were determined by cyanomethaemoglobin method, microhaematocrit centrifuge and colourmetric methods respectively. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration [MCHC] and transferrin saturation were calculated. The mean [ +/- SD] concentration of Hb, serum iron and transferrin saturation of all male students was 14.86 +/- 1.29 g/dL, 102.46 +/- 30.5 micro g/dL and 39.72 +/- 11.23% respectively. The mean [ +/- SD] concentrations of Hb, serum-iron and transferrin saturation of all female students was 12.57 +/- 0.92 g/dL, 57.51 +/- 11.8 micro g/dL and 21.12 +/- 5.4% respectively. Haemoglobin level, serum-iron and transferrin saturation were within normal levels according to WHO criteria. There were significant differences between mean values of biochemical parameters and sex of students and father income P<0.05. There was no significant association between iron status parameters and family size and ethnic groups. There was positive correlation between subject iron status and diet [meat, liver, fruits and hilba]. Iron status of first-year medical students at Gezira University is within normal reference values. This is in line with the health status of the students