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Iron balance in menstruating women
L Hallberg1, L Hulthén, C Bengtsson
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Göteborg, Sahlgrenska Hospital, Sweden.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|March 1, 1995
Summary
Iron balance in menstruating women is critically determined by diet, influencing iron absorption and storage. Exceeding dietary adaptation leads to decreased iron status, affecting hemoglobin and bone marrow iron.
Area of Science:
- Human physiology
- Nutritional science
- Hematology
Background:
- Menstruating women face unique iron balance challenges due to regular blood loss.
- Understanding iron homeostasis is crucial for preventing iron deficiency anemia.
- Dietary factors significantly influence iron absorption and utilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the determinants of iron balance in menstruating women.
- To examine the relationship between total iron requirements and various iron status indicators.
- To identify the critical level of iron requirements that can be met by dietary intake.
Main Methods:
- Study involved 203 randomly selected 38-year-old women.
- Iron balance was assessed by measuring menstrual and basal iron losses.
- Iron status indicators included serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, hemoglobin, and bone marrow haemosiderin.
Main Results:
- Increased iron requirements correlated with higher iron absorption and lower serum ferritin/transferrin saturation.
- A critical iron requirement level was identified, beyond which hemoglobin and bone marrow iron decreased.
- This critical level represents maximal adaptation, with a 25% prevalence of iron deficiency.
Conclusions:
- Dietary composition plays a pivotal role in regulating iron absorption.
- A critical balance point exists between iron deficiency and repletion, dictated by diet.
- Optimal dietary strategies are essential for maintaining iron balance in women.