[Iron deficiency and iron overload in an adult population in Catalonia, Spain]

To ascertain the frequency of iron deficiency and iron overload in an adult Catalan population.

Multiple iron measurements, including transferrin saturation (TS) and serum ferritin (SF), were performed in a representative sample of 1,296 adults.

The prevalence of iron deficiency was 5.6% (95% CI, 4.4 to 6.9)(SF below 12 microg/l), and 9.3% (95% CI, 7.7 to 10.9) had an iron overload(SF above 300 microg/l in men and SF above 200 microg/l in women). Iron deficiency was especially frequent in women 50 years old or younger (14.8%; 95% CI, 11.4 to 18.1),while in men of the same age it was 1.1% (95% CI, 0.1 to 2.1), yet 11.7% (95% CI, 8.7 to 14.7) had iron overload. In the population over 50 years there was an iron deficiency in 0.9% (95% CI, 0.0 to 1.8), and an iron overload in 15.1% (95% CI, 11.7 to 18.4). 1.6% (95% CI, 0.9-2.3) of all population and 3.9% (1.4-6.4) of men older than 50 years had an SF above 500 microg/l.

Iron overload is more prevalent than iron deficiency in Catalonia, particularly in men and people over 50 years. The causes and effects of the disorder should be investigated in order to carry out corrective measures in the future.