Comparison of selected blood components by race, sex, and age

Abstract
The effects of race, age, and sex on selected blood components for 429 black and white adults over 34 years in southwest Mississippi were studied. Fasting blood was collected early in the morning. Whole blood was used for the determination of hematocrit and hemoglobin. The sera were used for the analysis of iron, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, vitamin C, alkaline phosphatase, and protein and its fractions such as albumin, α-, β-, and γ-globulins. The data of whites versus blacks, males versus females, and those under versus over 60 years were compared. A significant racial difference was observed for all selected blood components except α-1-globulin, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase. Albumin, α-2-globulin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, triglycerides, and vitamin C were significantly higher in whites than in blacks and total protein, β-1- and γ-globulins and glucose were significantly higher in blacks than in whites. Males had higher levels of α-1- and γ-globulins, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, and females had higher levels of cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase. Those 60 years and over had higher γ-globulin and alkaline phosphatase, while adults under 60 years had higher hematocrit. Although results of this study showed significant differences between the races for certain blood parameters and suggest that these differences should be considered in determining guidelines for nutritional evaluation and criteria of diagnosing diseases, further studies are needed to determine the contributions of environment, economic status, and nutritional status to these differences.