We always thought that malnutrition is associated with iron deficiency; however, this study systematically reviewed the associations between iron, zinc, and vitamin A and weight status (underweight and overweight) in children and young people.
After screening 83 observational studies involving 190,443 participants from 44 countries, it was found that overnutrition (overweight and obesity) increased the odds of iron deficiency (ID). However, no significant association was found between overnutrition and zinc or vitamin A deficiencies.
The potential mechanism suggests inflammation-mediated increases in hepcidin confirmed by the fact that ferritin was consistently higher in obese groups compared with children with average weight.
Overall, the burden of iron deficiency may be under-recognized, particularly in children and young people living with overnutrition.
Tan X, et al. BMJ Glob Health. 2024;doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015135.