Iron Deficiency is The Main Cause of Anemia in Female Students of Senior High Schools in Sukoharjo Regency with No Polymorphism of Transferrin Receptor 1

摘要

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in reproductive females remains a public health problem in Indonesia. Transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) is one of important proteins, which are involved in regulation of the iron metabolism in the human body. Mutation of A210G TfR1 gene increases soluble TfR levels in some patients with type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between polymorphism of TfR1 gene and IDA in female students of senior high schools in Sukoharjo regency. This was an analytic observational study with the cross sectional approach. Research subjects were 470 female students who studied in year 10 and 11 of Public Senior High Schools in Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java. IDA diagnosis was determined using haemoglobin (Hb) levels, erythrocyte indexes (mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) and plasma ferritin levels. Food recall 1×24 hours was used to determine daily nutrient intake. Polymorphism of TfR1 gene A210G was determined using DNA sequencing. All collected data were analyzed using chi-square and Pearson correlation tests with p value <0.05. Anemia was detected in 18.9% female students and 60% of them had iron deficiency. Intake of carbohydrate (r = -0.07; p= 0.45), protein (r= 0.01; p= 0.93) and iron (r=0.04; p=0.32) did not correlate with Hb levels whilst lipid intake had weak correlation with Hb levels (r= -0.19; p=0.03). Inadequate food intake was commonly found in female students. A genetic variation of TfR1 gene was not found in female students with IDA. In conclusion, IDA is found in two third of anemic female students of senior high schools in Sukoharjo regency. There is no polymorphism of TfR1 gene in female students with IDA.