Iron deficiency in developed countries: prevalence, influence of lifestyle factors and hazards of prevention.
OBJECTIVE
To review the prevalence of iron deficiency in developed countries, the influence of lifestyle factors that may contribute to its occurrence, and dangers of population directed prevention.


METHODS
Relevant literature was selected to identify populations at risk for iron deficiency and iron overload.


RESULTS
Although iron deficiency anaemia is not a major health problem in developed countries, specific groups of the population remain endangered. These groups are young children, adolescents, pregnant women, the elderly, blood donors, vegetarians, endurance athletes and migrants. On the other hand, about 10% of Caucasians carry the mutation for hereditary haemochromatosis and are at risk for iron overload.


CONCLUSIONS
Measures to prevent iron deficiency should be specifically aimed at population groups at risk. Actions to increase iron intake and bioavailability in the general population can be harmful for subjects with homozygous and heterozygous forms of iron overload diseases.
Department of Internal Medicine and Eijkman-Winkler Institute, University Hospital Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
J J
JJ
Marx
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019049:Developed Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000235:genetics; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D007501:Iron