Long-term effect of low-dose combined steroid contraceptives on body iron status

The present study was aimed to evaluate iron metabolism in active and healthy adult women having taken oral contraceptives (OC) long-term. Mean dietary iron intake in age-matched control and experimental groups was adequate. Serum ferritin used as a marker for body iron stores was marginal in both groups underlying a high prevalence of deficient-iron reserves among subjects. This parameter was not correlated to the iron content of the diet. The serum iron concentration was significantly higher in OC users than control subjects (p less than 0.001). Biochemical results commanded a discussion on the pertinence of evaluating the total dietary iron intake and on the sensitivity of biochemical methods used to assess the iron status.