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ALBANIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENTAssessment of iron status in Albanian children andwomen through biochemical iron indicatorsEhadu Mersini 1 , Genc Burazeri 2,31World Health Organization, Tirana Office, Tirana, Albania;2Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania;3Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania.Aim: To assess the iron status among Albanianchildren aged 6 months to 14 years and women 15-49 years in a cross-sectional study conducted in theprefectures of Shkodër, Kukës and periurban areasof Tirana.Methods: A total of 443 children 6-59 months, 530children 5-14 years, and 418 women 15-49 yearswere included in this study. Iron status was definedutilizing biochemical indicators. Iron depletion wasdefined as low serum ferritin (SF28 nmol/l) plus irondepletion. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was definedas ID with hemoglobin (Hb) below the WHOcutoff value for age and sex: 11.0 g/dl for children6-59 months, 11.5 gr/dl for children 5-11 years old,12.0g/ dl for children 12-14 years old and(nonpregnant) women 15-49 years old. Individualswith indication of inflammation (CRP>10mg/ l)were excluded from the analyses.Results: The prevalence of iron depletion amongchildren 6-59 months, children 5-14 years andwomen 15-49 years were 28.4%, 10.9% and 23.6%,respectively. The overall prevalence of ID and IDAamong children 6-59 months was: 9.1% and 7.5%,respectively; among children 5-14 years: 6.1% and3.4%, respectively; and among women 15-49 years:8.1% and 7.1%, respectively.Conclusion: Findings of this study indicate thatspecific attention should be given in Albania to ensurethat the dietary intake of iron is adequate forchildren, adolescent girls and women throughimplementation of integrated strategies that includeimprovement of dietary intake through education,food fortification and use of iron supplements.Keywords: anemia, deficiency, dietaryintake, irondepletion.108 ALBANIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT