Relationship Between Pica and Laboratory Values in Patients with Iron Deficiency

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Pica is one of the symptoms of iron deficiency and a pathology that exacerbates the condition. In this study, we sought to identify the biomarkers associated with pica in iron-deficient patients. METHODS: The study included female iron deficient clinic applicants from April 2021 to August 2022. The main iron deficit inclusion criterion was ferritin <30 ug/L. Patients' demographics, hemograms, iron parameters, c-reactive protein levels, and presence and types of pica were recorded. Independent sample tests and logistic regression tests were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: There were a total of 381 patients who met the study's eligibility requirements (mean age 38.67+10.10). Fifty-three (13.9%) patients described pica. One hundred four of 381 patients (27.3%) showed non-anemic iron deficiency, while 277 (72.7%) had anemia. Pica was found in 9 (8.7%) non-anemic iron deficient individuals and 44 (15.9%) iron deficiency anemia patients. Pica subtypes geophagia (39.6%) and pagophagia (28.2%) were most common. Among the laboratory values, unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC), total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation differed significantly between groups with and without pica (p=0.029, p=0.045 and, p=0.030, respectively). UIBC and TIBC were significant again with univariate logistic regression. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Elevated UIBC and TIBC values and decreased transferrin saturation appear to be associated with pica in iron-deficient patients.

Keywords

• iron deficiencies
• anemia
• pica
• biomarkers
• iron binding capacity
• transferrin saturation