Fig. 1

Molecular changes in oxidative stress TOS and TAC (A), inflammatory markers; AGP and hs-CRP (B), and miRNAs expression; miR-146 a, miR-125 b, miR-122 (C) in iron deficiency and control school children aged 12–18 years. Iron deficiency was reported according to gender (D). There were significant increase and decrease in the expression levels of TOS and TAC in students with ID, IDA, and iron overload status (**P = 0.01; ***P = 0.001) [A]. Also, AGP and hs-CRP as markers of inflammation were significantly increased in subjects with iron overload compared to those of iron disorders; ID, IDA, and controls, respectively (**P = 0.01, ***P = 0.001) (B). Expression of miRNAs; miR-146a and miR-125b, and miR-122 were significantly upregulated in subjects with ID, IDA, and downregulated in iron overloaded subjects compared to expression levels obtained in control subjects respectively (**P = 0.01, ***P = 0.001) (C). Iron deficiency was significantly higher in girls (20%; P = 0.01) than in boys (8.6%; P = 0.01) as compared to normal controls (D). Abbreviation: BMI: body mass index; sTfR, soluble transferrin receptor; TBIS, total boy iron store; TOS, total oxidative stress; TAC, total antioxidant capacity; hs-CRP, high sensitivity C-reactive protein; AGP, α-1-acid glycoprotein; NI: normal iron (iron conc.;75–175 μg/dl); ID: iron deficiency (iron conc.; < 75 μg/dl l); IDA: iron deficiency anemia (iron conc.; < 75 μg/dl l; hemoglobin < 120 g/L, and ferritin < 15 μg/L); IO: iron overload (iron conc.; ˃175 μg/dl). Variables were considered significantly different at P < 0.05