Objective: To investigate the iron utilization of prepubertal female children.
Methods: 27 female children from 10 to 12 years old were selected and given 57Fe as a tracer, in conventional diet mode, the blood samples in 1 day before test, 14 days and 28 days after tracer given were taken, and were conducted into red blood cell sample. The iron content and changes of isotope abundance in samples were analyzed and combined with blood volume to get the utilization of iron in RBC.
Results: The erythrocyte incorporation rate( of dose) in 14 days and 28 days were (19.84 +/- 0.53)% and (18.75 +/- 0.40)% (P > 0.05). The erythrocyte incorporation rate( of absorption) were (93.49 +/- 2.27)% and (88.73 +/- 0.43)% respectively, and there was a significantly difference (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: It is feasible and accurate to evaluate the iron utilization using erythrocyte incorporation rate, which is tested by single stable isotopes tracer technique. Prepubertal female children has a higher utilization of iron, and the 14 days after tracer given is a effective entry point in erythrocyte incorporation study.