Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T17:56:39.414Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Iron sufficiency in the population of Northern Ireland: estimates from blood measurements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

J. J. Strain ,
K. A. Thompson ,
M. E. Barker  and
D. G. M. Carville
J. J. Strain
Affiliation:
Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, University of Ulster at Coleraine, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 ISA, Northern Ireland
K. A. Thompson
Affiliation:
Centre for Applied Health Studies, University of Ulster at Coleraine, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 ISA, Northern Ireland
M. E. Barker
Affiliation:
Centre for Applied Health Studies, University of Ulster at Coleraine, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 ISA, Northern Ireland
D. G. M. Carville
Affiliation:
Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, University of Ulster at Coleraine, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 ISA, Northern Ireland
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Estimates of iron status in a random sample (218 men, 283 women) of the Northern Ireland population (aged 18–64 years) were obtained from blood measurements. Multiple criteria were used to determine Fe deficiency and body Fe stores were calculated as an index of Fe sufficiency. Three distinct groups with respect to Fe stores were identified on the basis of sex and menstrual status. Estimates of body Fe stores, mean (and SD), were 13.4 (SD 5.97), 5.3 (SD 6.09) and 8.5 (SD 6.72) mM for men, women aged 18–44 years and women aged 45–64 years respectively. The prevalence of Fe-deficincy was low. ranging from 0.5% in men to 6.6% and 4.6% in the younger and older women respectively. The prevalence of Fe deficiency was low in men (1.4%) and older women (5.7%) rising to 11.0% in the younger group of women. The disproportionately elevated serum ferritin relative to transferrimn saturation supported the suggestion that chronic inflammation might have influenced Fe status measurements in men and older women.

Keywords

Iron statusBody iron storesInflammation
Type
Micronutrients
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 64 , Issue 1 , July 1990 , pp. 219 - 224
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1990

References

Ballot, D. E., MacPhail, A. P., Bothwell, T. H., Gillooly, M. & Mayet, F. G. (1989). Fortification of curry powder with Na Fe(III) EDTA in an iron-deficient population: initial survey of iron status. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 49, 156–161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barker, M. E., McClean, S. I., McKenna, P. G., Reid, N. G., Strain, J. J., Thompson, K. A., Williamson, A. P. & Wright, M. E. (1989). Diet, Lifestyle and Health in Northern Ireland, pp. 15–212. Coleraine: University of Ulster.Google Scholar
Beaton, G. H., Corey, P. N. & Steele, C. (1989). Conceptual and methodological issues regarding the epidemiology of iron deficiency and their implications for studies of the functional consequences of iron deficiency. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 50, 575–588.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bindra, G. S. & Gibson, R. S. (1986). Iron status of predominantly lacto-ovo vegetarian East Indian immigrants to Canada: a model approach. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 44, 643–652.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bolton, A. E. & Hunter, W. M. (1973). The labelling of proteins to high specific radioactivities by conjugation to a 125I-containing acylating agent: application to the radioimmunoassay. Biochemical Journal 133, 529–539.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cook, J. D. (1986). Assessment of iron status. In Proceedings of the XIII International Congress of Nutrition, pp. 526–529 [Taylor, T. G. and Jenkins, N. K., editors]. London: John Libbey.Google Scholar
Cook, J. D., Skikne, B. S., Lynch, S. R. & Reusser, M. E. (1986). Estimates of iron sufficiency in the US population. Blood 68, 726–731.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gordeuk, V. R., Bacon, B. R. & Brittenham, G. M. (1987). Iron overload: causes and consequences. Annual Review of Nutrition 7, 485–508.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hercberg, S., Galan, P., Assami, M. & Assami, S. (1988). Evaluation of the frequency of anaemia and iron-deficiency anaemia in a group of Algerian menstruating women by a mixed distribution analysis: contribution of folate deficiency and inflammatory processes in the determination of anaemia. International Journal of Epidemiology 17, 136–141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kish, L. (1965). Survey Sampling, pp. 398–401. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Kushner, J., Edwards, C., Griffen, L., Dadone, M. & Skolnick, M. (1984). Incidence of homozygosity for HLA-linked hemochromatosis in healthy young blood donors. Blood 64, 40a.Google Scholar
Strain, J. J., Carville, D. G. M., Barker, M. E., Thompson, K. A., Welch, R. W., Young, P. & Rice, D. A. (1989). Smoking and blood antioxidant enzyme activities. Biochemical Society Transactions 17, 497–498.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yip, R. & Dallman, P. R. (1988). The roles of inflammation and iron deficiency as causes of anaemia. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 48, 1295–1300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar