A Study on Iron and Protein Nutriture of Preschool and School Children in a Korean Rural Area

일부(一部) 농촌지역(農村地域) 성장기(成長期) 아동(兒童)의 단백질(蛋白質) 및 철분(鐵分) 영양상태(營養狀態)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)

A general survey of 82 perschool children and 473 school children (from 1st to 3rd grade) residing in the Dongnae area of Shindong Myun, choonseoung Gun, Kangwon Province was conducted from June 12 to 21, 1973, to obtain information concerning nutritional status, especially the protein and iron nutrition of preschool and school children in a rural area of Korea. A sample of 58 children 2 to 9 years old was selected from these 555 children for hematological, biochemical and parasitological tests. The results of these tests are presented below, 1) Both the mean body height and mean body weight of these children were higher and heavier than the averages in the Korean Physical Standards. About 39 per cent were above the 90 th percentile of the Korean Physical Standards of height and 35 per cent were above the 90th percentile of the Korean Physical Standards of weight. 2) The rate of infestation by helminthes was 67.6 per cent and there were no cases of hookworm infestation Among the ascaris-infected children, 61.6 per cent fell within an Ascaris E.P.G. count range of $501{\sim}2,000$. This was considered a rather mild intensify of ascaris infection. Nutrient loss due to helminthes was also estimated to be low. 3) The mean hemoglobin level was 11.3gm% $({\pm}0.94)$, and 68.4 per cent of the children were anemic (less than 11gm% among those 5 years old or less, less than l2gm% among those 6 years old or more). The average hematocrit value was 36.1% $({\pm}2.36)$, and only 3.5 per cent showed more than 34% on the M.C.H.C. test. These results showed that the incidence of anemia, in these rural children was high, and that in general it displayed hypochromic characteristics. 4) The average serum iron level was $78.2{\mu}g%$\;({\pm}29.8). The Proportion of the children showing less than $50{\mu}g% in the serum iron level was 5.6 per cent, while 41.8 percent revealed $450{\mu}g% or more in the TIBC determination. Transferrin saturation was below 15% in 71.4 percent of the preschool children, and in 28.6 percent of the school children. Those who had a serum iron level of $50{\mu}g% or less and a TIBC of more than $450{\mu}g% constituted 11.9 percent of the children examined. From these results, it was concluded that especially preschool children were low in iron nutrition, and that most of the anemia might be iron-deficiency anemia. 5) The mean values of total serum protein and albumin were 6.98gm% and 4.99gm% respectively. Especially in serum albumin, all children stowed more than 4 gm%. 6) The mean urinary urea nitrogen Per creatinine ratio was 11.5 $({\pm}4.2)$, and 21.8 percent had a ratio of more than 15. Considering these results, it was suggested that protein nutrition in these children was relatively good.