Oral supplementation with NaFeEDTA reduces blood lead in postmenopausal but not premenopausal Korean women with anemia.

OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the effect of iron supplementation for 6 mo on blood lead (PbB) concentration in populations of premenopausal (PRE-M) and postmenopausal (POST-M) Korean women. METHODS We conducted a community intervention trial in Asan, Republic of Korea. Of the 137 enrolled women with hemoglobin (Hb) levels lower than 12 g/dL, 37 were PRE-M and 100 were POST-M. Each woman received the equivalent of 9 mg of supplemental iron per day in the form of sodium-iron ethylene-diaminetetra-acetic acid (NaFeEDTA) syrup for a period of 6 mo. RESULTS The initial PbB concentrations were 2.56 +/- 0.99 microg/dL (mean +/- SD) for the PRE-M women and 3.27 +/- 1.24 microg/dL for the POST-M women. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). After 6 mo of NaFeEDTA supplementation, the PbB concentration decreased in the POST-M group but no change was observed in the PRE-M group. When age and baseline Hb levels were adjusted for, PbB concentrations decreased by 0.10 and 0.31 microg/dL in the PRE-M and POST-M groups, respectively, and the results were significant using a multivariate model (P = 0.016). Iron status determined by zinc protoporphyrin, transferrin saturation, and Hb improved significantly in both groups, but serum ferritin decreased significantly in the POST-M women (P < 0.001), with no change in the PRE-M group. CONCLUSION After 6 mo of supplementation with the equivalent of 9 mg of iron/d in the form of NaFeEDTA, the PbB concentrations in Korean women with anemia appeared to depend on their menopausal status.