HFE genotypes and dietary heme iron: no evidence of strong gene-nutrient interaction on serum ferritin concentrations in middle-aged women.
OBJECTIVE
Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a disorder characterized by inappropriately high intestinal iron absorption. In populations of Northern European descent, HH is most commonly caused by mutations (C282Y/H63D) in the HFE gene.


RESULTS
We investigated the effects of dietary heme iron intake and HFE mutations on serum ferritin concentrations in a population-based random sample of 1611 women aged >50 years using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Higher heme iron intake was associated with significantly higher serum ferritin concentrations (P(trend) < 0.001). Also, women with the compound or C282Y homozygous genotype had significantly higher serum ferritin concentrations (geometric mean 115.2 microg/L (95% CI 81.4-162.9 microg/L) than women carrying normal alleles (geometric mean 76.6 microg/L (95% CI 72.5-80.9 microg/L). We observed the highest serum ferritin concentrations among postmenopausal women who are compound heterozygous or C282Y homozygous, and who consume relatively high amounts of heme iron (geometric mean 183.9 microg/L (95% CI 97.2-347.8 microg/L).


CONCLUSIONS
Even when there are currently no clinical signs, women with the compound or C282Y homozygous genotype may still be at risk for developing iron overload sometime after menopause.
van der A
Daphne L
DL
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Peeters
Petra H M
PH
Grobbee
Diederick E
DE
Roest
Mark
M
Voorbij
Hieronymus A M
HA
van der Schouw
Yvonne T
YT
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D005838:Genotype; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D019266:Iron, Dietary; D005293:Ferritins