Disruptions in iron homeostasis are linked to a broad spectrum of chronic conditions including cardiovascular, malignant, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disease. Evidence supporting this contention derives from a variety of analytical approaches, ranging from molecular to population-based studies. This review focuses on key epidemiological studies that assess the relationship between body iro...

Iron depletion, with or without anemia, may have a negative effect on physical and mental performance. Even with current recognition of the problem, its incidence among athletes remains high. Most studies describe iron status in endurance athletes. This study examined the prevalence of iron depletion and anemia among male and female top-level basketball players. Adolescents and adults (N = 103)...

The quantitative assessment of body iron based on measurements of the serum ferritin and transferrin receptor was used to examine iron status in 800 Bolivian mothers and one of their children younger than 5 years. The survey included populations living at altitudes between 156 to 3750 m. Body iron stores in the mothers averaged 3.88 +/- 4.31 mg/kg (mean +/- 1 SD) and 1.72 +/- 4.53 mg/kg in chil...

BACKGROUND Iron deficiency anaemia is a frequent complication of Crohn disease. Treatment with ferrous iron (Fe2-) compounds is often unsatisfactory and is associated with gastrointestinal side effects. Theoretically, oral iron supplementation may even be harmful, because iron may reinforce intestinal inflammation by catalysing production of reactive oxygen species. We investigated the effect o...

BACKGROUND Can exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age maintain optimum iron status in term babies? We evaluated iron status of exclusively breastfed term infants in relation to breast milk iron and lactoferrin. METHODS In this prospective study in Delhi, India, during the period 2003-2004 normally delivered babies of non-anemic [(Hemoglobin (Hb) = 11 g/dl, n = 68] and anemic (Hb 7 - ...

Red cell ferritin was measured in normal subjects and patients with disorders of iron metabolism, inflammation, liver dysfunction, impaired hemoglobin synthesis, and increased red cell turnover by means of radioimmunoassays with antibodies to liver (basic) and heart (acidic) ferritins. The normal mean values for basic and acidic ferritin were 8.9 and 22.7 altogram (ag)/cell, respectively. The r...

Placental iron transport during the last trimester of pregnancy determines the iron endowment of the neonate. Iron transport is a function of the major iron transport proteins, transferrin receptor-1 (TfR-1) and ferroportin-1 (FPN-1). The mRNAs for TfR-1, and potentially FPN-1, are post-transcriptionally regulated by iron regulatory protein-1 (IRP-1) and -2 (IRP-2). We assessed the effect of ge...

BACKGROUND Nutrition is one of many factors affecting the cognitive development of children. In Cambodia, 55% of children <5 y were anemic and 40% stunted in 2010. Currently, no data exists on the nutritional status of Cambodian school-aged children, or on how malnutrition potentially affects their cognitive development. OBJECTIVE To assess the anthropometric and micronutrient status (iron, v...

Background: Evidence shows that iron deficiency in adulthood may affect cognitive performance, possibly by disrupting neurotransmitter regulation or brain energy metabolism. Women of reproductive age (WRA) are among those who are most vulnerable to iron deficiency; however, they have been largely ignored in the literature relating iron status to cognition.Objective: Our aim was to determine the...

INTRODUCTION Iron deficiency is highly prevalent in pre-school children in developing countries and an important health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. A debate exists on the possible protective effect of iron deficiency against malaria and other infections; yet consensus is lacking due to limited data. Recent studies have focused on the risks of iron supplementation but the effect of an individ...