Prevalence of iron deficiency in children aged 9-24 mo from a large urban area of Argentina.

Argentina has been largely considered as hay- ing an adequate diet in terms of iron availability. However, children aged 9-24 mo do not meet requirements from their regular diet. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of iron deficiency in a representative sample ofchildren living in Greater Buenos Aires. Hematobogic indicators were mea- sured in venous blood from 384 children. Weighted incidence ofanemia was 46.7%. Mean corpuscular volume was 1.77 �tmol/L erythrocytes in 57. 1%, and serum ferritin was < 12 �zg/ L in 60.2%. incidence oftwo or three abnormal values for iron status indicators was 46. 1%. This extremely high incidence of anemia is associated with low iron intakes (5.6 ± 3.5 mg/d, I ± SD), early introduction ofcow milk, and low consumption of iron-fortified foods and iron supplements. Am J C/in Nutr 1990;52:534-40.