Prevalence of Iron Deficiency in the United States

Looker, Anne C. PhD
Dallman, Peter R. MD
Carroll, Margaret D. MS
Gunter, Elaine W. MT(ASCP)
Johnson, Clifford L. MSPH

From the Division of Health Examination Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Md (Dr Looker, Ms Carroll, and Mr Johnson); the Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (Dr Dallman); and the Division of Environmental Health Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga (Ms Gunter).

JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association 277(12):p 973-976, March 26, 1997.

Objective

To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in the US population.

Design

Nationally representative cross-sectional health examination survey that included venous blood measurements of iron status.

Main Outcome Measures

Iron deficiency, defined as having an abnormal value for at least 2 of 3 laboratory tests of iron status (erythrocyte protoporphyrin, transferrin saturation, or serum ferritin); and iron deficiency anemia, defined as iron deficiency plus low hemoglobin.

Participants

A total of 24 894 persons aged 1 year and older examined in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994).

Results

Nine percent of toddlers aged 1 to 2 years and 9% to 11% of adolescent girls and women of childbearing age were iron deficient; of these, iron deficiency anemia was found in 3% and 2% to 5%, respectively. These prevalences correspond to approximately 700 000 toddlers and 7.8 million women with iron deficiency; of these, approximately 240 000 toddlers and 3.3 million women have iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency occurred in no more than 7% of older children or those older than 50 years, and in no more than 1% of teenage boys and young men. Among women of childbearing age, iron deficiency was more likely in those who are minority, low income, and multiparous.

Conclusion

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are still relatively common in toddlers, adolescent girls, and women of childbearing age.

JAMA.1997;277:973-976