Day-to-day variation in iron-status indices in healthy men and women

Article Abstract:

Iron is required for many different physiological processes. The major use of iron in the body is for transporting oxygen in the blood. The iron status (the amount of iron in the body) of an individual is determined by analyzing a sample of blood. There are four different factors that are measured in the blood to determine the iron status, including the amount of iron in the blood (PI, plasma iron), plasma ferritin (a protein that stores iron), hemoglobin (Hb, a protein in red blood cells that uses iron to transport oxygen), and the hematocrit (Hct, the number of red blood cells in a given volume of blood). It has been suggested that these indicators of iron status can vary from day to day, and that the variations may cause the iron status of an individual to be diagnosed incorrectly if only one blood sample is tested. Therefore, a study was performed to determine if PI, PF, Hb, and Hct are all likely to change from day to day in the same individual. Blood samples were drawn from 10 men and 10 women for 31 consecutive days. The Hb and Hct showed the least amount of day-to-day variation, while PI and PF had the greatest day-to-day variation. When PI, measured in a single blood sample, is used to diagnose iron status, there is a 50 to 60 percent chance that the individual will be classified as being iron-deficient, when he or she is not. When either Hb or PI is used to predict iron status, there is a 30 percent chance that a person who is iron-deficient will be diagnosed as being normal. The results of this study indicate the using a single blood test to determine iron status may lead to an incorrect diagnosis because of day-to-day variations in blood parameters. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Iron in the body, Iron (Nutrient), Hemoglobin, Hemoglobins, Blood chemical analysis, blood, Hematocrit

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Plasma ferritin concentrations in anemic children: relative importance of malaria, riboflavin deficiency, and other infections

Article Abstract:

Anemia is widespread among children in developing countries. While iron deficiency is the most frequent cause of anemia, malaria and chronic infection are other important causes. Thirty-six anemic children aged 1 to 12 years were studied, and compared with 10 healthy control children. The anemic subjects were further divided into two groups, those with malaria and those with other infections. Ferritin is the stored form of iron and increases during infections, such as those caused by malaria. The level of plasma ferritin was higher in the anemic than the control children. When the two subgroups of anemic children were considered separately it was found that those with malaria had normal ferritin levels and children with other infections had significantly elevated ferritin. The subjects were also evaluated for riboflavin (vitamin B-2) nutrition, which was equivalent among all three groups. The authors concluded that riboflavin deficiency plays no significant part in the increase of serum ferritin that is associated with the presence of infection. It also appeared that malaria had less effect on ferritin level than other, as yet unidentified factors. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Infection, Causes of, Pediatric diseases, Developing countries, Malaria, Anemia in children, Pediatric anemia, Infection in children

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Glutathione reductase activity, riboflavin status, and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis

Article Abstract:

There appears to be an association between riboflavin deficiencies and disease activity among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Erythrocyte glutathione reductase (EGR) activity, a component of the inflammation process, measures riboflavin levels. EGR and disease activity were assessed in 91 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 220 healthy volunteers (control group). Patients with riboflavin deficiencies tended to have higher measures of disease activity. A similar percentage of the patients with active disease (33%) and control group members (41%) had riboflavin deficiencies.

Risk factors, Rheumatoid arthritis, Vitamin B2 deficiency, Riboflavin deficiency, Glutathione metabolism

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