Table 2.

Differences in hematological, biochemical, dietary, and physical activity indices between girls with normal iron status and iron depletion (serum ferritin < 12 μg/L), with or without menses.

	Girls without menses			Girls with menses			P value§
	Normal iron status (n = 797)	Iron depletion (n = 151)	P value‡	Normal iron status (n = 182)	Iron depletion (n = 92)	P value‡
Hematological and biochemical indices
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	13.1 ± 0.8	13.1 ± 0.7	0.674	13.4 ± 0.9	12.9 ± 0.8	0.001	0.044
Haematocrit (%)	39.2 ± 2.1	39.2 ± 1.9	0.941	39.7 ± 2.4	38.7 ± 2.1	0.001	0.058
MCHC (g/dL)	33.4 ± 1.2	33.5 ± 1.0	0.561	33.7 ± 1.2	33.4 ± 1.0	0.029	0.623
RBC (M/μL)	4.9 ± 0.38	4.8 ± 0.3	0.259	4.8 ± 0.4	4.7 ± 0.3	0.048	0.037
Serum iron (μg/dL)	85 ± 39	78 ± 40	0.067	93.5 ± 39	79.4 ± 37	0.005	0.907
Ferritin (μg/L)	33.9 ± 18	11.9 ± 2.85	0.001	29.4 ± 13.7	10.4 ± 3.1	0.001	0.043
C-reactive  protein*(ng/mL)	798 ± 643	624 ± 843	0.870	754 ± 1105	562 ± 646	0.800	0.592
Dietary and physical activity indicesa	(n = 597)	(n = 120)		(n = 117)	(n = 56)
Total protein (g/day)	69.9 ± 21.5	71.4 ± 21.4	0.499	69.5 ± 21.3	74.2 ± 19.5	0.151	0.451
Calcium (mg/day)	1030 ± 386	1096 ± 423	0.118	1004 ± 345	1131 ± 368	0.033	0.294
Sodium (mg/day)	1641 ± 688	1725 ± 698	0.228	1707 ± 681	1700 ± 616	0.947	0.360
Total steps (no of steps/day)	11753 ± 4480	12158 ± 4155	0.280	11823 ± 3860	11604 ± 4170	0.675	0.316

All data are presented as mean ± standard deviation.

^‡Derived from Student's t-test, indicates the statistical significance of the differences between girls with ID and normal iron status.

^§Derived from Student's t-test, indicates the statistical significance of the differences between iron depleted girls with and without menses.

*Parameter was log transformed.

^aUnderreporters were excluded from all analysis concerning dietary data.

MCHC: mean cell hemoglobin concentration; RBC: red blood count.