Iron status and liver function in healthy adults: a multiracial pilot study

Area of Science:

• Clinical Biochemistry
• Hematology
• Public Health

Background:

• Elevated iron indices like plasma ferritin and transferrin saturation can indicate health issues.
• Urban populations may exhibit unique metabolic profiles.
• Understanding iron metabolism variations is crucial for preventative health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of high plasma ferritin and transferrin saturation in apparently healthy urban adults.
• To identify demographic differences, specifically by race and sex, in iron-related laboratory values.
• To explore potential underlying causes for observed abnormalities.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 157 apparently healthy urban adults.
• Measurement of plasma ferritin, transferrin saturation, serum iron, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and total serum bilirubin.
• Statistical comparison of laboratory values across different demographic groups (sex, race).

Main Results:

• 7.7% of the total cohort had elevated plasma ferritin or transferrin saturation.
• Men, overall, showed higher mean values for plasma ferritin, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and total serum bilirubin compared to women.
• Black men exhibited significantly higher mean serum iron and transferrin saturation than nonblack men, and higher levels across multiple markers than black women.

Conclusions:

• Significant proportions of healthy urban adults, especially black men, present with abnormal iron-related laboratory values.
• Observed abnormalities suggest potential occult inflammation, liver disease, or primary iron metabolism disorders.
• Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the causes and clinical implications of these findings in diverse urban populations.