Genetic transferrin types and iron-binding: a comparative study of a European and an African population sample

Two population samples, one from Europe and one from Africa, were analyzed for the distribution of genetic transferrin (TF) types, serum concentrations of TF, serum iron concentrations and free iron-binding capacities. In Europeans the distribution of the TF alleles was C1 = 0.816, C2 = 0.143, C3 = 0.037, and B2 = 0.004. In black Africans the allele frequencies were: C1, 0.823; C2, 0.104; and D1 = 0.073; TFC3 was absent. The mean serum concentrations were 362 +/- 88 mg/dl in Europeans and 528 +/- 176 mg/dl in Africans; this difference was statistically significant. The concentration of serum immunoglobulins was also elevated in black Africans although their health was reported to be normal. The serum iron concentrations in Africans were decreased; the free iron-binding capacity of TF was, thus, increased. In both population samples there was a tendency for slightly higher TF concentrations in the TF C1 subtype than the TF C2 subtype. This correlation was not statistically significant. Analysis of a larger sample is required to establish this relationship.