A Population-Based Epidemiologic Study on Anemia and the Related Factors among Schoolchildren in a Rural District of Japan

Plasma Ascorbic Acid and Anemia

Abstract

　Anemic children with low hemoglobin had significantly higher plasma ascorbic acid than healthy children. Plasma ascorbic acid negatively correlated to hemoglobin in school children. The plasma level of ascorbic acid was higher in the children who had low daily intake of ascorbic acid. These results suggest that the plasma ascorbic acid level rises compensating to improve the efficiency of iron absorption in the children with low hemoglobin. In addition, ascorbic acid intake in daily life is low in the children. As the result, the ascorbic acid level in the whole body have decreased. Guidance that increases the ascorbic acid intake with the replenishment of iron is necessary for the children.