title: Iron status in young Danish men and women: a population survey comprising 548 individuals.
abstract: Iron status was assessed by measurement of serum (S-) ferritin and hemoglobin (Hb) in 548 randomly selected healthy Danes (264 men, 284 women) with a median age of 25 years (range 16-31). S-ferritin values in men displayed a gradual increase with age, and at all ages, men had higher values than women. Iron deficiency (i.e., S-ferritin < 16 micrograms/l) was observed in 0.8%; none had iron deficiency anemia (i.e., S-ferritin < 16 micrograms/l and Hb < 129 g/l). Daily iron supplementation was used by 15.5%. The frequency of iron deficiency was 0% in supplement users vs 0.9% in nonusers. The frequency of preclinical hereditary hemochromatosis was 0.38%. There was a slight insignificant increase in S-ferritin values of women with age. Iron deficiency was observed in 14.7% of 16- to 19-year-olds, in 9.2% of 20- to 24-year-olds, and in 8.6% of 25- to 31-year-old women (p < 0.01), and iron deficiency anemia (i.e., S-ferritin < 16 micrograms/l and Hb < 121 g/l) in 14.7%, 3.4%, and 3.7%, respectively (p < 0.01). Daily iron supplementation was used by 21.5%. The frequency of iron deficiency in users was 4.9% vs. 10.8% in nonusers, and the frequency of iron deficiency anemia 1.6% in users vs. 5.8% in nonusers. The results indicate a satisfactory iron status in young men. There is a high frequency of iron deficiency in young women, suggesting that preventive measures should be considered in this risk group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Oresund Hospital, Hørsholm, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milman
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jordal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006306:Health Surveys; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron