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Updated: May 17, 2025
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Setup of Capillary Electrophoresis-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry CE-ICP-MS for Quantification of Iron Redox Species FeII, FeIII
Published on: May 4, 2020
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Association Between Body Iron Status and Biological Aging
Ann Von Holle1, Sahana Ramamurthy2, Mary V Díaz Santana1
1Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA.
Nutrients
|May 14, 2025
Summary
High serum ferritin may accelerate biological aging, while higher serum iron and transferrin saturation show inverse associations. Further research is needed to understand these complex relationships in aging.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Gerontology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Iron is vital for human health, but aberrant iron levels are linked to chronic diseases and accelerated aging.
- Previous studies suggest a positive association between blood iron and cellular senescence, indicating potential aging acceleration.
- The relationship between blood iron and robust methylation-based biological aging metrics remains unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cross-sectional associations between serum iron markers and DNA methylation-based biological aging metrics.
- To examine the relationship between serum ferritin, serum iron, transferrin saturation, and three distinct biological aging clocks.
Main Methods:
- A random sample of 1260 women from the Sister Study was analyzed.
- Serum iron (ferritin, iron, transferrin saturation) and three methylation-based aging metrics (GrimAgeAccel, PhenoAgeAccel, DunedinPACE) were measured.
- Linear regression models were used to assess associations, adjusting for lifestyle and demographic factors.
Main Results:
- Increased serum ferritin was positively associated with higher DunedinPACE, GrimAgeAccel, and PhenoAgeAccel.
- Higher serum iron and transferrin saturation showed inverse associations with DunedinPACE, GrimAgeAccel, and PhenoAgeAccel.
- Associations were observed after adjusting for smoking, alcohol intake, menopause status, education, exercise, and diet.
Conclusions:
- The positive association between ferritin and aging metrics supports the role of oxidative stress in high iron exposure.
- Inverse associations between serum iron/transferrin saturation and aging metrics challenge common explanations.
- Further research is required to elucidate the mechanisms behind these complex iron-aging relationships.
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