Abstract
Blacks have a Hb 0.5 to 1.0 g/dl lower than that of income-matched caucasians in several large surveys. This difference could be a racial characteristic of blacks or it might be due to a higher frequency of genetic traits such as thalassemia minor and hemoglobinopathies or to environmental factors such as iron deficiency. To help in making this distinction, we analyzed the data from multiphasic examinations (1973-75) on 1718 caucasians and 741 black, healthy, non-indigent children between 5 and 14 yr of age. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, skin fold thickness), Hb, red cell indices and Hb electrophoresis were analyzed. In the entire population, the median Hb at each age averaged 0.5 g lower in blacks than in caucasians of both sexes (p<0.001). The difference still averaged 0.5 g/dl (p<0.001) after exclusion of all those with abnormal Hb electrophoresis (Hb S and C) and those whose mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was more than 5% below the normal mean for age (to exclude iron deficiency or thalassemia minor). Abnormal Hb was found in 1% of caucasians and 12% of blacks. Exclusions based on MCV were made in 10% of Caucasians and 21% of blacks. There was no association between obesity and Hb. The data strengthen the impression that blacks normally have a Hb about 0.5 g/dl less than in caucasians. If this proves to be the case, 10% of normal blacks would be mistakenly designated anemic unless different norms were adopted.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dallman, P., Barr, G., Allen, C. et al. HEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION (Hb) DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BLACKS AND CAUCASIANS: GENETIC OR ENVIRONMENTAL?. Pediatr Res 11, 470 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00599
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00599