title: HbA1c and iron deficiency: a review.
abstract: Conditions that affect erythrocyte turnover influence HbA1c concentrations and the International Expert Committee has warned clinicians to be aware of any conditions that could affect the turnover of red blood cells. Although many forms of anemia are associated with lowering of HbA1c, iron deficiency has been shown to shift HbA1c slightly upward. The exact mechanism through which iron deficiency anemia affects HbA1c levels, however still remains unclear. The explanations provided above are merely speculations, warranting further studies to confirm and elucidate the role of these factors. As little work has been done in this field so future and large scale studies are required which may address HbA1c enhancing effect and the mechanism of increased HbA glycation in iron deficiency properly.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, JN Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India. jamalahmad11@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Jamal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Dalia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rafat
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human