title: [Iron levels in 1359 Danish women in relation to menstruation, use of oral contraceptives and parity].
abstract: Iron status was assessed by measuring serum ferritin and haemoglobin in a population survey in Copenhagen County, comprising 1359 nonpregnant women in age cohorts of 30, 40, 50, and 60 years; 809 were premenopausal and 550 postmenopausal. Premenopausal women had lower serum ferritin (median 37 micrograms/l) than postmenopausal women (median 71 micrograms/l), p < 0.0001. Of premenopausal women, 17.7% had ferritin < 15 micrograms/l (depleted iron stores), and 23.1% had ferritin levels of 15-30 micrograms/l (small iron stores). Corresponding figures in postmenopausal women were 3.3% and 10.3%. Iron deficiency anaemia (ferritin < 15 micrograms/l and haemoglobin < 121 g/l) was observed in 2.6% of pre- and 0.36% of postmenopausal women. After menstruations had ceased, there was a steep rise in ferritin levels, being most pronounced during the first 7 postmenopausal years. Pre- and postmenopausal multipara had lower ferritin than nulli- and unipara (p < 0.04), indicating that pregnancy and childbirth had a long lasting reducing influence on iron stores. The use of oral hormonal contraceptives had a marked increasing effect on iron stores, being correlated to the number of years the women had been taking the pill.
authors.affiliation: Medicinsk-lungemedicinsk afdeling Y, Københavns Amts Sygehus i Gentofte.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000453:epidemiology; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008598:Menstruation / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron
vernacular_title: Jerndepoterne hos 1.359 danske kvinder set i relation til menstruationsforhold, p-pilleforbrug og fødsler.