The objective of this study was to identify the nutritional risk factors by blood analysis, in 1,083 preschool children of age 3 to 6 years. The frequency of anemic children was 7.3% with Hb<11.1 g/dL, 29.9% with ferritin<20 ng/mL, and 16.7% with transferrin Fe saturation(%)<15%. The prevalence of anemia in these children were 12.8% for those with MCV<79 fL, and it was 71% for those with TIBC>400 μg/dL. Serum ferritin concentration was 20 ng/mL in the normal children. Thirty two percent of the children had anemia with Hb<12 g/dL, which is below the normal range of Hb. Exactly 15.4% of the children had serum Fe concentration of 60 μg/dL. The transferrin Fe saturation of the children (16.3%) was >15%. The serum ferritin concentration showed low correlations with Hb, Fe, transferrin Fe saturation, and MCV. The transferrin Fe saturation, higher Hb concentration, MCV, and Hct values were increased significantly. Consequently, iron-deficiency anaemia was thus defined as having Hb concentration <12 g/dL accompanied by ferritin concentration <20 ng/mL or Hct <33%.

• 신경옥(삼육대학교 식품영양학과) | Shin, Kyung-Ok