To determine the importance of the zinc protoporphyrine /heme ratio and serum iron levels for the diagnosis of iron deficiency, hemoglobin, serum iron (SI) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) levels were studied in 378 (187 girls, 191 boys) randomly selected children with ages ranging between months and 14 years. Cases were divided into four age groups: group I: 6 mo-2 years, group II: 3-7 yrs, group III: 8-10 yrs, and group IV: 11-14 yrs. When mean values of all patients were evaluated, anemia (low Hb levels), sideropenia (low serum iron levels) and iron deficiency (high ZnPP levels) were detected in 17%, 76%and 25% of children, respectively. Prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency were found significantly higher in infants than in the others (39%, 24%, 16%, 7% and 45%, 26%, 23%, 9% in groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively). The diagnosis, treatment and prevention of iron deficiency is an important issue for children in Turkey, where the prevalence rate of iron deficiency is higher, since it impairs psychomotor development and cognitive function. To determine the incidence of iron deficiency, it is essential to use simple, useful and inexpensive methods. In this study, serum ZnPP was a useful and more reliable method for determining iron deficiency than use of serum iron levels.

Keywords: demir eksikliği, serum demir düzeyi, çinko protoporfirin, iron deficiency, serum iron level, zinc protoporphyrin