Abstract
In order to determine the effect of age, sex, dietary and supplemental iron intakes and chronic disease factors and iron status and serum ferritin concentrations, 69 free-living very elderly (≥ 75 yrs) were recruited. Subjects completed demographic and health history questionnaires, 3-day diet records and provided a fasting blood sample for determination of iron status parameters. Subjects were predominately white (mean age 80 yrs) and low income (52% < $10,000; 23% $10,000-$15,000, annually). Women had significantly lower hemoglobin, serum iron and percent transferrin saturation as compared with the men. Only one subject had a total iron intake <2/3 the RDA, but 22% supplemented with iron. Iron deficiency anemia was prevalent in only 3% of the population; iron status in general, however, was lower than that reported in other free-living elderly. Neither serum ferritin, total iron intake, age, nor income were good predictors of iron status in this population. Serum ferritin was >200 ng/mL in 38 of the subjects, but half of these high values could be explained by pre-existing disease factors.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-12 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Nutrition Reports International |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 1 |
State | Published - Jan 1 1989 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Food Science
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology