Iron deficiency and obesity: the contribution of inflammation and diminished iron absorption.
Poor iron status affects billions of people worldwide. The prevalence of obesity continues to rise in both developed and developing nations. An association between iron status and obesity has been described in children and adults. The mechanism explaining this relationship remains unknown; however, findings from recent reports suggest that body mass index and inflammation predict iron absorption and affect the response to iron fortification. The relationship between inflammation and iron absorption may be mediated by hepcidin, although further studies will be required to confirm this potential physiological explanation for the increased prevalence of iron deficiency in the obese.
McClung
James P
JP
Military Nutrition Division, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, Massachussetts 01760, USA. James.McClung@amedd.army.mil
Karl
J Philip
JP
D000042:Absorption; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000502:physiology; D064451:Hepcidins; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications*; D007501:Iron / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578702:HAMP protein, human; D064451:Hepcidins; D007501:Iron