Lower hematocrit levels in blacks are not due to diet or socioeconomic factors
Garn, S.M.
Pediatrics 67(4): 580
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-4005 PMID: 7254983 Document Number: 177741
The hypothesis that low hematocrit and hemoglobin levels in blacks are caused by dietary and socioeconomic factors is rejected on the basis of evidence from several epidemiologic studies. Blacks from all age groups, matched with whites with respect to income, food and iron intake, and exercise and activity, exhibited lower hematocrit and hemoglobin even after supplementation and when subjects with low serum transferrin and iron were excluded. Rather, the evidence confirms that the difference is racial. Therefore, clinical definitions of anemia or iron deficiency should be determined separately for blacks and whites.