Lactate, pyruvate, and alanine levels were investigated in patients with iron deficiency anemia and other types of anemia.

The study was carried out on 36 children between 2 and 16 years of age. The study group was divided into three groups, each comprised of 12 children. It was shown that the anemic children have lower PO2, higher PCO2 and higher levels of lactate, pyruvate, and alanine than the control group (p less than 0.05).

There was a negative linear correlation between lactate levels and hemoglobin values (r = -0.6213; p less than 0.05), but no correlation between hemoglobin and the alanine and pyruvate levels. Levels of lactate, pyruvate and alanine were similar in the iron deficiency and the other anemia groups.

In conclusion, iron has no direct effect on the levels of lactate, pyruvate, and alanine, but the hypoxemia caused by anemia could be responsible for the higher levels of the lactate, pyruvate, and alanine.

In cases with high levels of lactate, pyruvate, and alanine, anemia has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of hyperlactatemia.

About the Authors

Ceyhan M; Ozalp I; Altay C (1988). High levels of lactate, pyruvate, and alanine in anemic children. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 1988 Apr;27(4):206-9.