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Serum iron and risk of fatal acute myocardial infarction
H I Morrison1, R M Semenciw, Y Mao
1Bureau of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Health and Welfare Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
Insights
High serum iron levels are linked to an increased risk of fatal heart attacks. This study found no significant association between dietary iron or iron supplements and heart attack risk in adults.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Elevated iron levels have been implicated in cardiovascular disease.
- The role of dietary iron and iron supplementation in myocardial infarction risk requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between serum iron, dietary iron intake, and iron supplement use with the risk of fatal acute myocardial infarction.
- To investigate potential sex-specific differences in these associations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Nutrition Canada Survey cohort, including 9,920 participants.
- Assessment of serum iron levels, dietary iron intake, and iron supplement usage.
- Statistical analysis to determine rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals for fatal acute myocardial infarction.
Main Results:
- A significant association was observed between higher serum iron levels (≥ 175 µg/dL) and an increased risk of fatal acute myocardial infarction.
- Rate ratios for the highest serum iron category were 2.18 for males and 5.53 for females.
- No significant association was found between dietary iron intake or iron supplement use and the risk of fatal acute myocardial infarction.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum iron levels may be a risk factor for fatal acute myocardial infarction.
- Dietary iron and iron supplementation do not appear to be significantly associated with the risk of fatal acute myocardial infarction in this cohort.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms linking serum iron to cardiovascular events.
Abstract:
We assessed the relation of serum iron, dietary iron, and the use of iron supplements to the risk of fatal acute myocardial infarction in the Nutrition Canada Survey cohort. We found an association between serum iron and risk of fatal acute myocardial infarction, with rate ratios for males and females in the highest category of serum iron (> or = 175 micrograms per dl) of 2.18 [95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.01-4.74] and 5.53 (95% CI = 1.69-18.12), respectively. We found no important association between risk of fatal acute myocardial infarction and either dietary iron or iron supplement use among the 9,920 participants included in this study.