The iron status of Black and white female adolescents from eight Southern states

Abstract

Hb, hematocrit, plasma iron, and transferrin saturation were measured in approximately 1000 girls aged 12, 14, or 16 yr in eight southern states. The iron status parameters did not differ significantly among the three age groupings or between menstruating and nonmenstruating girls. Blacks had significantly lower mean Hb (p < 0.0001), hematocrit (p < 0.0001), and transferrin saturation (p < 0.05) levels than whites and a greater proportion of Blacks exhibited low Hb (p < 0.05) and low hematocrit levels (p < 0.01). Adjusting for dietary iron intakes and per capita income levels did not adequately account for significant race differences for iron status parameters. These findings support the contention that genetic as well as environmental factors are responsible for the frequently reported Black-white differences in Hb and hematocrit levels.