Serum ferritin in children and adolescents. Results from population surveys in 1979 and 1986 comprising 1312 individuals

: Iron stores were assessed by measurement of serum ferritin in a population survey comprising 436 randomly selected urban Danish schoolchildren (219 boys, 217 girls) 7 to 17 years old. Median ferritin values were similar in boys and girls 7 to 13 years old, while 14- to 17-year-old boys had significantly higher values than girls of similar age (p< 0.0001). Boys had stable median ferritin values from 7 to 15 years of age, after which a significant rise was found from 16 to 17 years of age (p<0.01). Girls had unchanged median ferritin values from 7 to 11 years of age, after which a significant decrease was found from 12 to 17 years of age (p<0.01). The frequencies of low ferritin values < 16 μg/1 (indicating absent iron stores) were: Children 7 to 11 years, 1.0%. Boys 12 to 15 years, 4.5%; 16 to 17 years, 0%. Girls 12 to 15 years, 7.6%; 16 to 17 years, 16.7%. Ferritin levels in the reported 1986 survey were significantly higher than those obtained in a similar survey in the same area in 1979. The results indicate an overall increase in iron stores in Danish schoolchildren and adolescents during 1979–1986, possibly due to an increase in the consumption of meat, and in the use of vitamin-mineral supplements containing iron.