The effect of iron-deficiency anaemia on two indices of nutritional status, prealbumin and transferrin.

1. Serum prealbumin, transferrin and iron concentrations were measured in ninety-two north Cameroonian children under 5 years of age. The results were grouped according to the blood haemoglobin concentration range in order to show the interactions of anaemia with prealbumin and transferrin concentrations. 2. Transferrin concentration showed a significant negative correlation with serum Fe and percentage saturation of transferrin values. Prealbumin concentration showed a significant direct correlation with haemoglobin but did not correlate with either serum Fe or percentage saturation of transferrin. 3. It is concluded that in regions where Fe-deficiency anaemia is endemic transferrin concentration may be of little value in determining nutritional status. On the contrary, prealbumin seems to be more useful.