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Risk of iron overload among middle-aged women
I Kato1, A M Dnistrian, M Schwartz
1Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Louisiana State Health Science Center, Shreveport.
Summary
Iron overload is unlikely in middle-aged women, even with supplement use. Factors like menopause, obesity, and smoking influence iron stores (serum ferritin), but diet and supplements show minimal impact on high levels.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Biochemistry
- Public Health
Background:
- Iron overload, characterized by elevated body iron stores, poses health risks due to increased oxygen radical generation.
- Serum ferritin levels serve as a key indicator of total body iron stores.
- Middle-aged women exhibit a high prevalence of nutrient supplement use, necessitating an understanding of iron status factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors associated with serum ferritin levels in middle-aged women.
- To assess the influence of diet, lifestyle, and supplement use on iron stores.
- To determine the likelihood of iron overload in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Serum ferritin concentrations were measured using automated immunoassay in 487 healthy women (mean age 57) from the New York University Women's Health Study.
- Statistical analyses were performed to identify associations between serum ferritin and various factors including menopausal status, age, ethnicity, BMI, smoking, diet, and supplement use.
- Adjustments were made for menopausal status and other identified confounding factors.
Main Results:
- Postmenopausal women had over double the mean serum ferritin concentrations compared to premenopausal women.
- Serum ferritin levels increased with age, though this association weakened after adjusting for menopausal status.
- Nonwhite ethnicity, obesity, and smoking were positively associated with serum ferritin. Meat intake and multivitamin use showed a positive association, while breakfast cereal consumption showed an inverse association, after adjustments.
- Crucially, none of the lifestyle factors significantly impacted serum ferritin levels above 100 ng/ml.
Conclusions:
- Iron overload appears unlikely to develop in middle-aged women solely through dietary intake and nutritional supplements.
- Menopausal status, obesity, smoking, ethnicity, and specific dietary patterns are significant determinants of iron stores in this population.
- While certain lifestyle factors influence serum ferritin, they do not appear to drive clinically significant iron overload in middle-aged women.