Serum hepcidin recalibrated values in Mexican schoolchildren by demographic characteristics, nutritional and infection/inflammation status

Hepcidin production is regulated by iron concentration, erythropoietic activity, and inflammation. There is no reference method for determining its levels, but results obtained through various methods strongly correlate and can be compared using recalibration equations. Objective: To describe recalibrated serum hepcidin values at different percentiles in schoolchildren, considering age, sex, inflammatory processes, H. pylori infection, and iron status. Methods: Secondary analysis of data incorporating information on inflammation, H. pylori infection, and iron status of 349 schoolchildren. Hepcidin analysis was performed using a competitive ELISA, and recalibrated hepcidin values were calculated using the inverse of the linear regression model equation obtained by van der Vorm et al. Results: Recalibrated hepcidin values were lower than non-calibrated values. In schoolchildren without infection/inflammation and without iron deficiency, recalibrated values at the 50th percentile (25th–75th) were 4.89 ng/mL (2.68–8.42). For schoolchildren without infection/inflammation but with iron deficiency, recalibrated values were 2.34 ng/mL (1.10–6.58), the lowest hepcidin values observed. The highest values were found in the group with infection/inflammation, regardless of iron deficiency status. Conclusions: Recalibrated hepcidin values were lower than non-calibrated values. The highest values were observed in schoolchildren with infectious or inflammatory processes, and the lowest values were observed in schoolchildren with iron deficiency but only in the absence of infectious or inflammatory processes. Using recalibrated hepcidin values allows comparison between data obtained using different analytical methods.