scholarly journals Iron Status of Vegans, Vegetarians and Pescatarians in Norway

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 454
Author(s):  
Sigrun Henjum ◽  
Synne Groufh-Jacobsen ◽  
Tonje Holte Stea ◽  
Live Edvardsen Tonheim ◽  
Kari Almendingen

Although plant-based diets provide well-established physical and environmental health benefits, omitting meat or meat products has also been associated with a risk of being deficient in specific nutrients, such as iron. As data on the iron status among Norwegian vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians are lacking, the present study aimed to assess iron status in these groups of healthy adults. Blood markers for iron status were measured in 191 participants (18–60 years old) comprising 106 vegans, 54 vegetarians and 31 pescatarians: serum-ferritin (S-Fe), serum-iron (S-Iron) and serum-total iron binding capacity (S-TIBC). Serum-transferrin-saturation (S-TSAT) was estimated (S-Iron/S-TIBC × 100). The median concentration of blood markers for iron status were within the normal range with no difference between the different dietary practices. In total, 9% reported iron supplement use the last 24 h. S-Fe concentrations below reference (<15 μg/L) were found in 8% of the participating women, of which one participant reported iron supplement use. In multiple regression analysis, duration of adherence to dietary practices and the female gender were found to be the strongest predictors for decreased S-Fe concentration. In conclusion, although the participants were eating a plant-based diet, the majority had sufficient iron status. Female vegans and vegetarians of reproductive age are at risk of low iron status and should have their iron status monitored.

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 737-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Halimatou Alaofè ◽  
John Zee ◽  
Romain Dossa ◽  
Huguette Turgeon O’Brien

AbstractIron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency in the world, particularly in developing countries. Blood samples and a qualitative FFQ on Fe- and vitamin C-rich foods were obtained in 180 adolescent girls aged 12 to 17 years living in two boarding schools from south Benin. ID, defined as serum ferritin either <20μg/l or 20–50μg/l, plus two of the following parameters: serum Fe<11μmol/l, total iron-binding capacity>73μmol/l or transferrin saturation<20%, was found in 32% of subjects. Anaemia (Hb<120g/l) was found in 51% of adolescents, while 24% suffered from iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) (ID and Hb<20g/l). After adjusting for confounding factors (age, mother's and father's occupation, household size) in a logistic regression equation, subjects having a low meat consumption (beef, mutton, pork) (<4 times/week) were more than twice as likely to suffer from ID (OR=2·43; 95% CI 1·72, 3·35;P=0·04). Adolescents consuming less fruits (<4 times/week) also had a higher likelihood of suffering from ID (OR=1·53; 95% CI 1·31, 2·80;P=0·03). Finally, subjects whose meat consumption was low were twice as likely to suffer from IDA (OR=2·24; 95% CI 1·01, 4·96;P=0·04). The prevalence of ID represents an important health problem in these Beninese adolescent girls. A higher consumption of Fe-rich foods and of promoters of Fe absorption (meat factor and vitamin C) is recommended to prevent ID deficiency in these subjects.


Author(s):  
Neda Milinković

Background: Literature data indicate the benefit of magnesium (Mg) supplementation. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of short-term Mg supplementation on iron status in healthy female participants. Methods: One hundred healthy female students of the University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy participated in the study during eleven intervention days. Students ingested Mg preparations with the same dose of the active substance. The analysis included the measurement of serum iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), total Mg (tMg), ionized Mg (iMg), complete blood count, met-, carboxy- and oxy-haemoglobin (metHgb, COHgb, O2Hgb). Transferrin concentrations and the percentage of transferrin saturation (SAT) were calculated manually. The association among the analyzed biochemical parameters was examined using polynomial regression. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used for the evaluation of interdependence between the analyzed parameters. Results: A statistically significant trend for change in O2Hgb (%) by tertiles of iMg concentrations was found (P = 0.029). Serum tMg reached a significant positive correlation with the SAT at concentration levels greater than 0.9 mmol/L, after 11 days of intervention (R2=0.116). Ionized Mg in a concentration higher than 0.6 mmol/L is positively correlated with SAT and serum Fe (R2=0.214; 0.199, respectively). PCA revealed variability of 64.7% for two axes after 11 days. Conclusions: Mg supplementation leads to an improvement in certain iron status parameters even in individuals with optimal levels of these indices. However, caution should be exercised when supplementing Mg, and laboratory monitoring of the interaction is required.


2001 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 132-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodolfo Delfini Cançado ◽  
Carlos Sérgio Chiattone ◽  
Fausto Forin Alonso ◽  
Dante Mário Langhi Júnior ◽  
Rita de Cássia Silva Alves

CONTEXT: Blood donation results in a substantial loss of iron (200 to 250 mg) at each bleeding procedure (425 to 475 ml) and subsequent mobilization of iron from body stores. Recent reports have shown that body iron reserves generally are small and iron depletion is more frequent in blood donors than in non-donors. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of iron deficiency in blood donors and to establish the frequency of iron deficiency in blood donors according to sex, whether they were first-time or multi-time donors, and the frequency of donations per year. DESIGN: From September 20 to October 5, 1999, three hundred blood donors from Santa Casa Hemocenter of São Paulo were studied. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS: Using a combination of biochemical measurements of iron status: serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation index, serum ferritin and the erythrocyte indices. RESULTS: The frequency of iron deficiency in blood donors was 11.0%, of whom 5.5% (13/237) were male and 31.7% (20/63) female donors. The frequency of iron deficiency was higher in multi-time blood donors than in first-time blood donors, for male blood donors (7.6% versus 0.0%, P < 0.05) and female ones (41.5% versus 18.5%, P < 0.05). The frequency of iron deficiency found was higher among the male blood donors with three or more donations per year (P < 0.05) and among the female blood donors with two or more donations per year (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that blood donation is a very important factor for iron deficiency in blood donors, particularly in multi-time donors and especially in female donors. The high frequency of blood donors with iron deficiency found in this study suggests a need for a more accurate laboratory trial, as hemoglobin or hematocrit measurement alone is not sufficient for detecting and excluding blood donors with iron deficiency without anemia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-11
Author(s):  
Burhan A. Zaman ◽  
Suzan O. Rasool ◽  
Nashwan M. R. Ibrahim ◽  
Deldar M. Abdulah

Background: The progressive renal function inadequacy results in altered hepcidin metabolism due to a shifting of its renal elimination, which consequently affects enteric iron absorption and iron stores’ availability. This study aimed to investigate and correlate renal function, iron status, and hepcidin in patients with β-thalassemia major through a novel index. Methods: In this 1:1 case–control study, serum hepcidin, serum ferritin, iron study, hematological and renal function parameters were compared between 60 β-thalassemia major patients with iron overload and 61 healthy individuals (2–30 years old). Results: The concentrations of serum hepcidin (21.898 vs. 9.941 ng/mL; p < 0.001) and eGFR (179.71 vs. 132.95; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in β-thalassemia major patients compared to the controls. The serum hepcidin levels decreased with increasing levels of total iron-binding capacity (TIBC; β = −0.442; p = 0.024), transferrin saturation (β = −0.343; p = 0.023), serum creatinine (β = −0.625; p = 0.0030), and eGFR (β = −0.496; p = 0.011). The mean hepcidin/ferritin ratio was significantly lower in the β-thalassemia major cases (0.0069 vs. 0.3970; p < 0.001). The novel hepcidin/eGFR ratio index (HeGRI) was significantly higher in the patient group compared to controls (0.12 vs. 0.09; p = 0.031), respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that HeGRI could be a potential index of the appropriateness of serum hepcidin suppression associated with the degree of renal dysfunction among β-thalassemia major patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-44
Author(s):  
Laith S.G. Al-Rubaie

Trypanosomiasis is one of the common parasitic diseases, which infects the dromedary camels and decreases the numbers of these animals in Iraq. To get the best knowledge of the changes of iron status in camels infected with trypanosomiasis, in an attempt to take advantage of these variables as markers for infection, we designed this study. The current study conducted in blood sample collection from155 dromedary camels, 33 were infected (21.29%), according to the status of infection with Trypanosoma evansi that depends on blood smear examination as a golden test. Results denote significant differences of infection ratio by sex and age, from total of 132 male tested, 29 (21.96%) infected, distributed into 12 (%41.37) of age ≤ 2 years and 17 (58.62) of ≥ 2 years. From 23 female tested, 4 (17.39%) were infected at age ≤ 2 years. Furthermore, the results of this study demonstrated significant (p˂0.05) decrease in total serum iron, transferrin saturation, ferritin, whereas increased in total iron binding capacity and unsaturated iron binding capacity in the infected male and female camels with different age. Analyzed data of iron status parameters denoted that the cutoff point test between sensitivity (97) and specificity (100) for serum iron is (≤67.26), for transferrin saturation is (≤17.23) between the sensitivity and specificity (100) and (≥378.66), for total iron binding capacity between the sensitivity and specificity (93.9 and 96.7) respectively. Also, the cutoff point test between the sensitivity (100) and specificity (96.7) for unsaturated iron binding capacity is (≥301.27) and ferritin concentration has a cutoff point is (≤ 249.88) for the sensitivity (100) and specificity (99.2). It could be concluded from what was stated in the results of the current study, that the measurement of the concentration of serum ferritin could be considered as a good marker for the T. evansi infection


2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-114
Author(s):  
Clarisse S. Coelho ◽  
Mario Cappi Neto ◽  
Marcela B. Binda ◽  
Fernanda A. Teixeira ◽  
Renan S. Carvalho ◽  
...  

Energy metabolism and physical performance are dependent on sufficient iron metabolism. Therefore, studies evaluating the iron profile are necessary to elucidate this trace mineral requirements and its role in the equine exercise physiology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of barrel racing exercise on serum iron profile of Quarter horses. Twenty-two regularly trained Quarter horses (8 females and 14 males, 4.8 ± 2.4 years old, mean body weight 431.7 ± 33.9 kg) were enrolled in this study with the owner’s informed consent. All horses were evaluated at T0 (at rest), T1 (immediately after barrel racing trial), T2 (30 min after trial) and T3 (2 h after trial). At these time points, blood samples were taken to determine the packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), total protein (TP), serum iron (SI), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation (TSAT). Variables were analyzed for normality through Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and comparisons were made using Tukey test, considering P < 0.05. The imposed exercise challenge significantly altered PCV, RBC, haemoglobin concentration, TP, SI and TSAT, with higher values were recorded at T1. These findings can be linked to an increased demand as a result of physical activity. Significant changes occurred in the iron status in physically well-conditioned Quarter horses during the barrel racing exercise. Better understanding of iron metabolism in horses will help determine the actual necessity of supplementation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marija Jelic ◽  
Tatjana Cvetkovic ◽  
Vidojko Djordjevic ◽  
Goran Damnjanovic ◽  
Predrag Vlahovic ◽  
...  

Bacground/Aim. Hepcidin may play a pathogenetic role in iron metobolism disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between hepcidin concentration and parameters of iron metabolism in patients with different stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods. The study involved 104 patients with CKD: 64 on hemodialysis (HD) and 40 patients in pre-dialysis stadium (pre-HD) with adequate erythropoetin therapy and iron supplementation. The HD group was divided in four subgroups according to the level of serum ferritin (up to 100; 100-199; 200-499 and over 500 ng/mL). Parameters of anemia, iron status, inflamation and hepcidin level were evaluated. Results. The HD patients had a significantly lower eritrocyte count, erythrocytes indexes, hemoglobin and transferrin saturation and significantly higher iron, ferritin, hepcidin and total iron binding capacity (TIBC). The HD subgroups up to 199 ng/mL of serum feritin had lower high-sensitivity Creactive protein (hsCRP), iron and higher unbuffered iron binding capacity (UIBC), transferrin saturation and TIBC compared to the HD subgroups over 200 ng/mL. The lowest and the highest ferritin subgroups had the highest hepcidin level and it showed significant correlation with ferritin. Conclusion. Hepcidin may serve as a marker for better diagnosing and monitoring anemia and iron metabolism disorders in CKD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Wissam Sabhan Khalaf ◽  
Wasan Nazhan Hussein1 ◽  
Amina Hamid Ahmed2

Background: In developing countries, chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with anaemia is one of the major public health problems. With the progression of the disease, development of haematological abnormalities including iron deficiency increases. Renal anaemia may further increase the morbidity in these patients. Therefore, earlier detection and treatment of anaemia may be helpful in preventing the progression of the diseases and its other adverses (complications) outcomes. Materials and Methods : The study included estimation of the level of iron , some electrolytes  with the determination of effect of body mass on all biochemical variables in the serum of healthy people the number (40) sample and people with chronic renal failure the (90) sample. Results: The Results indicate that the levels of serum iron ,Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) ,Transferrin Saturation (T.S), haemoglobin , PCV, calcium and magnesium were Significantly Decreased  in Patients group as compared with control and Significant Height in phosphate level (P≤0.01) in Patients group as compared .   http://dx.doi.org/10.25130/tjps.24.2019.071


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Momodou W. Jallow ◽  
Susana Campino ◽  
Andrew M. Prentice ◽  
Carla Cerami

AbstractGenome-wide association studies in Europeans and Asians have identified numerous variants in the transmembrane protease serine 6 (TMPRSS6) and transferrin (TF) genes that are associated with changes in iron status. We sought to investigate the effects of common TMPRSS6 and TF gene SNPs on iron status indicators in a cohort of healthy Africans from rural Gambia. We measured iron biomarkers and haematology traits on individuals participating in the Keneba Biobank with genotype data on TMPRSS6 (rs2235321, rs855791, rs4820268, rs2235324, rs2413450 and rs5756506) and TF (rs3811647 and rs1799852), n = 1316. After controlling for inflammation, age and sex, we analysed the effects of carrying either single or multiple iron-lowering alleles on iron status. TMPRSS6 rs2235321 significantly affected plasma hepcidin concentrations (AA genotypes having lower hepcidin levels; F ratio 3.7, P = 0.014) with greater impact in individuals with low haemoglobin or ferritin. No other TMPRSS6 variant affected hepcidin. None of the TMPRSS6 variants nor a TMPRSS6 allele risk score affected other iron biomarkers or haematological traits. TF rs3811647 AA carriers had 21% higher transferrin (F ratio 16.0, P < 0.0001), 24% higher unsaturated iron-binding capacity (F ratio 12.8, P < 0.0001) and 25% lower transferrin saturation (F ratio 4.3, P < 0.0001) compared to GG carriers. TF rs3811647 was strongly associated with transferrin, unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC) and transferrin saturation (TSAT) with a single allele effect of 8–12%. There was no association between either TF SNP and any haematological traits or iron biomarkers. We identified meaningful associations between TMPRSS6 rs2235321 and hepcidin and replicated the previous findings on the effects of TF rs3811647 on transferrin and iron binding capacity. However, the effects are subtle and contribute little to population variance. Further genetic and functional studies, including polymorphisms frequent in Africa populations, are needed to identify markers for genetically stratified approaches to prevention or treatment of iron deficiency anaemia.


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