Atousa Homafar - Department of nutrition science, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
Naser Shagerdi Esmaeli - Department of Hematology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran

BACKGROUND: Values of hematological parameters are affected by factors such as age, sex, ethnic background and social, nutritional and environmental factors. The objective of this study was to determine the values of hematological parameters, red cell indices and Hb A2 and Hb F levels in normal Iranian children, living in the Central Province of Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 528 apparently healthy children, with ages ranging from 2-15 years, and selected during a household screening program. Hematological parameters, red cell indices, and hemoglobin types (Hb A2 and Hb F) were estimated, and the children were divided into 10 groups depending on the age. Male and female children were separated, and the mean and standard deviation of each parameter was calculated for each age group.RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the red cell count in the male and female children. White blood cells gradually decreased from 2 years onwards, while hemoglobin and hematocrit levels increased significantly from 2 to 15 years. Mean cell volume and mean cell hemoglobin also showed slight increases, while mean cell hemoglobin concentration remained more or less constant. Hemoglobin A2 and Hb F showed slight but no significant fluctuations. Comparison of the results with those reported in the literature shows that Iranian children have some values similar to Caucasians, while others have values which are intermediate between Caucasians and African children.CONCLUSION: The values reported in this study can be used as normal reference values for Iran and adolescents.

Hematologic Parameters, RBC Indices, Reference Range, Adolescence