Considering Risk Factors for Iron Deficiency Girls in Junior High School 1st Grade

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to help prevent iron deficiency, explain risk factors, and assess the state of iron deficiency in a cross-sectoral manner girls in junior high school 1st grade.

Methods: We conducted anthropometric and blood tests in a private junior and senior high school in Tokyo. The subjects included 493 girls out of 715 junior high school girls who enrolled in 2012–2017. The data included anthropometric measurements, blood samples, dietary intake, and daily life acitivities. Iron deficiency is indicated by serum ferritin less than 12 ng/ml; the normal is serum ferritin more than 12 ng/ml. We assessed risk factors for iron deficiency by performing logistic regression analysis.

Results: Iron deficiency is that body wight, body fat percentage, and age at menarche was higher and the length of menstrual cycle was longer than normal (p < 0.05). Iron deficiency of the quantity of "don't eat meat or fish at lunch" responses was high, and the length of menstrual cycle of was longer than normal (p < 0.05). Girls who had experienced menarche were 9.44 times higher in iron deficiency risk than those who had not. The quantity of "eat meat or fish at lunch" responses was 0.28 times lower in iron deficiency risk, and "eat a lot of meat or fish at lunch" responses was 0.09 times lower in iron deficiency risk than for "don't eat meat or fish at lunch"responses (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: We believe that girls who eat meat or fish at lunch have lower iron deficiency risk. Therefore, a good quantity of iron is required to help prevent iron deficiency girls in junior high school 1st grade.