Relationship between hemoglobin concentration and transferrin saturation in iron-sufficient infants.

ABSTRACT

Ten groups of healthy infants and children from 2 months to 15 years of age were studied, each consisting of 98 to 238 subjects. In young infants whose serum ferritin values indicated ample storage iron, the concentration of hemoglobin was found to bear a significant relationship to the degree of iron saturation of transferrin. This phenomenon was evident throughout the range of transferrin saturation until 1 year of age but became undetectable or less significant from 2 to 15 years of age. We postulate that the production of hemoglobin could be influenced through a broader range of transferrin saturation in rapidly growing infants than in the older child or adult.