Association of Iron Depletion with Menstruation and Dietary Intake Indices in Pubertal Girls: The Healthy Growth Study

Table 2

Differences in hematological, biochemical, dietary, and physical activity indices between girls with normal iron status and iron depletion (serum ferritin < 12 𝜇g/L), with or without menses.

	Girls without menses			Girls with menses			𝑃 value§
	Normal iron status; (𝑛=797)	Iron depletion; (𝑛=151)	𝑃 value^‡	Normal iron status; (𝑛=182)	Iron depletion; (𝑛=92)	𝑃 value‡
Hematological and biochemical indices
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	13.1±0.8	13.1±0.7	0.674	13.4±0.9	12.9±0.8	0.001	0.044
Haematocrit (%)	39.2±2.1	39.2±1.9	0.941	39.7±2.4	38.7±2.1	0.001	0.058
MCHC (g/dL)	33.4±1.2	33.5±1.0	0.561	33.7±1.2	33.4±1.0	0.029	0.623
RBC (M/𝜇L)	4.9±0.38	4.8±0.3	0.259	4.8±0.4	4.7±0.3	0.048	0.037
Serum iron; (𝜇g/dL)	85±39	78±40	0.067	93.5±39	79.4±37	0.005	0.907
Ferritin (𝜇g/L)	33.9±18	11.9±2.85	0.001	29.4±13.7	10.4±3.1	0.001	0.043
C-reactive; protein*(ng/mL)	798±643	624±843	0.870	754±1105	562±646	0.800	0.592
Dietary and physical activity indices^a	(𝑛=597)	(𝑛=120)		(𝑛=117)	(𝑛=56)
Total protein (g/day)	69.9±21.5	71.4±21.4	0.499	69.5±21.3	74.2±19.5	0.151	0.451
Calcium (mg/day)	1030±386	1096±423	0.118	1004±345	1131±368	0.033	0.294
Sodium (mg/day)	1641±688	1725±698	0.228	1707±681	1700±616	0.947	0.360
Total steps (no of steps/day)	11753±4480	12158±4155	0.280	11823±3860	11604±4170	0.675	0.316

All data are presented as mean ± standard deviation.
‡Derived from Student’s 𝑡-test, indicates the statistical significance of the differences between girls with ID and normal iron status.
§Derived from Student’s 𝑡-test, indicates the statistical significance of the differences between iron depleted girls with and without menses.
*Parameter was log transformed.
^aUnderreporters were excluded from all analysis concerning dietary data.
MCHC: mean cell hemoglobin concentration; RBC: red blood count.