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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
Evaluation of Oxidative Stress in Biological Samples Using the Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances Assay
Published on: May 12, 2020
Iron status and oxidative stress biomarkers in adults: a preliminary study
Juliana Frossard Ribeiro Mendes1, Sandra Fernandes Arruda, Egle Machado de Almeida Siqueira
1Postgraduate Program in Human Nutrition, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Brazil. jufrossard@gmail.com
Objective:
Although essential to many vital processes, iron catalyzes reactions that produce reactive oxygen species, which are associated with the increased risk of non-communicable chronic diseases and precocious aging. This study investigated whether ferritin, hemoglobin concentration, and dietary iron consumption are related to oxidative stress biomarkers in adults.
Methods:
Data were collected from 134 allegedly healthy subjects >18 y of age who were randomly selected to participate in a cross-sectional study as part of the pilot project Prevalence of Risk Factors for Non-communicable Chronic Diseases in the Federal District, Brazil (VIVA Saúde-DF). Serum ferritin, malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl concentrations, hemoglobin, and dietary iron consumption were analyzed.
Results:
A weak positive correlation (r = 0.189, P = 0.032) and association (P = 0.046) was observed for serum ferritin and MDA. Hemoglobin concentrations were positively associated with serum MDA (P = 0.040). Dietary iron intake and serum protein carbonyl concentrations showed a weak positive correlation (r = 0.173, P = 0.046) for all subjects. Iron intake by women was positively associated with serum protein carbonyl (P = 0.03). A lower serum MDA concentration was found in ferritin-deficient subjects (P = 0.015) and men with anemia (P = 0.011).
Conclusion:
These results suggest that low levels of iron may reduce oxidative stress.
