Differences In Iron Levels Research Articles

Relaxometry network based on MRI R2⁎ mapping revealing brain iron accumulation patterns in Parkinson's disease

BackgroundExcessive iron accumulation in the brain has been implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the patterns and probable sequences of iron accumulation across the PD brain remain largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the sequence of iron accumulation across the PD brain using R2* mapping and a relaxometry covariance network (RCN) approach. MethodsR2* quantification maps were obtained from PD patients (n = 34) and healthy controls (n = 25). RCN was configured on R2* maps to identify covariance differences in iron levels between the two groups. Regions with excessive iron accumulation and large covariance changes in PD patients compared to controls were defined as propagators of iron. In the PD group, causal RCN analysis was performed on the R2* maps sequenced according to disease duration to investigate the dynamics of iron accumulations from the propagators. The associations between individual connections of the RCN and clinical information were analyzed in PD patients. ResultsThe left substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr), left substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), and lobule VII of the vermis (VER7) were identified as primary regions for iron accumulation and propagation (propagator). As the disease duration increased, iron accumulation in these three propagators demonstrated positive causal effects on the bilateral pallidum, bilateral gyrus rectus, right middle frontal gyrus, and medial and anterior orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Furthermore, individual connections of VER7 with the left gyrus rectus and anterior OFC were positively associated with disease duration. ConclusionsOur results indicate that the aberrant iron accumulation in PD involves several regions, mainly starts from the SN and cerebellum and extends to the pallidum and cortices. These findings provide preliminary information on sequences of iron accumulation in PD, which may advance our understanding of the disease.

The effect of iron supplementation in preterm infants at different gestational ages

BackgroundIron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency disease in preterm infants, significantly affecting their growth and development. For preterm infants to flourish physically and neurologically, timely iron supplementation is essential. The main goals of this study were to determine whether the present iron supplementation regimen results in iron overload in late preterm infants and whether it can meet the growth requirements of early preterm infants for catch-up.MethodsWe conducted a prospective follow-up study on preterm infants at the Department of Child Health, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, from January 1, 2020, to August 31, 2020. In this study, 177 preterm infants were divided into two groups based on gestational age—early preterm infants (gestational age < 34 weeks) and late preterm infants (gestational age ≥ 34 weeks and < 37 weeks)—to compare the incidence of iron deficiency, iron status, and physical growth of preterm infants receiving iron supplements (2–4 mg/kg/d).ResultsIron supplementation considerably reduced the incidence of iron deficiency in preterm infants. The prevalence of iron deficiency in early preterm infants and late preterm infants was 11.3% and 5.1%, respectively, at the corrected gestational age of 3 months; at the corrected gestational age of 6 months, the prevalence was 5.3% and 6.3%, respectively. No preterm infants with iron deficiency were detected in either group at the corrected gestational age of 12 months. Ferritin was substantially lower in early preterm infants (36.87 ± 31.57 ng/ml) than in late preterm infants (65.78 ± 75.76 ng/ml) at the corrected gestational age of 3 months (p < 0.05). A multifactorial regression analysis of factors influencing iron metabolism levels in preterm infants revealed a positive relationship between log10hepcidin, birth weight, and ferritin, with higher birth weights resulting in higher ferritin levels.ConclusionsPostnatal iron supplementation at 2–4 mg/kg/d in preterm infants significantly decreases the incidence of ID. There were substantial differences in iron levels across preterm infants of varying gestational ages. A tailored iron supplementation plan based on growth, birth weight, and gestational age may be a more suitable route for iron supplementation. Although the current study found that the postnatal iron status of early preterm infants differed from that of late preterm infants, the actual mechanism of action remains unknown, and large-sample, multicenter clinical studies are required to investigate this further.

Prevalence of iron deficiency in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and its association with altered lipid profile

Abstract Background: The escalation of diabetes mellitus poses a significant public health challenge in India. This condition impacts iron metabolism, potentially causing variations in the iron profile. This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of iron deficiency in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and explore its associated factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at a tertiary care center in Eastern India. Biochemical assessments encompassed fasting plasma glucose, post-prandial glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, renal function tests, complete hemogram, and iron profile. Anthropometric measurements were conducted using standardized procedures. Results: This study revealed that among the 203 participants, the prevalence of iron deficiency was 63.5% (95% confidence interval: 56.5–70.2). Anemia was observed in 34% of patients (men &lt;13 g/dL, women &lt;12 g/dL). The mean levels of serum iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, and transferrin saturation were 62.9 ± 26.1 μg/dL, 100.6 ± 103.2 ng/mL, 392.3 ± 72 μg/dL, and 16.6 ± 7.5%, respectively. The mean fasting blood sugar, post-prandial blood sugar, and HbA1c values were 154.2 ± 63 mg/dL, 229.3 ± 92.1 mg/dL, and 7.7 ± 1.5%, respectively. There were no significant differences in iron levels between genders or between poorly controlled and well-controlled diabetics. However, significant associations were observed between iron deficiency and lower total cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides. Conclusion: This study concludes that iron deficiency is highly prevalent among diabetic patients in India and is associated with lipid profile alterations.

PERBANDINGAN KADAR BESI (Fe) PADA DAUN KELOR (Moringa oleifera) YANG TUMBUH DI DATARAN TINGGI DAN DATARAN RENDAH SECARA SPEKTROFOTOMETRI SERAPAN ATOM (SSA)

Moringa leaves are a multipurpose medicinal plants commonly consumed as vegetables. Moringa leaves are rich in nutrients, one of which is iron (Fe) as much as 7 mg / 100g. Iron is useful for preventing anemia. Moringa grows in the highlands and lowlands with different soil conditions, so this allows for differences in iron levels in the leaves. This study aims to determine whether there are significant differences between Moringa leaves that grow in the highlands and lowlands. Samples were obtained from one of the residents' yards in kec. Gisting (highland) and kec. Teluk Betung (lowland). The sampling technique was carried out by purposive sampling. The tools used for iron analysis are Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 248.40 nm. Linear regression line equation is obtained, which is y = 0.010483 + 0.09074x with a correlation coefficient (r) that is 0.9985. The average level of iron from Moringa leaves that grew in the highlands and lowlands respectively 6.26 mg / 100g and 6.16 mg / 100g. The results of the calculation of the t test found that tcount = 1.06. This tcount value will be compared with ttable with a 99% confidence level of 4.60. If tcount is smaller than ttable then Ho is accepted and Ha is rejected so that there is no significant difference between iron in moringa leaves that grow in the highlands and lowlands.

The U-shaped association of serum iron level with disease severity in adult hospitalized patients with COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease that leads to severe respiratory failure (RF). It is known that host exposure to viral infection triggers an iron-lowering response to mitigate pathogenic load and tissue damage. However, the association between host iron-lowering response and COVID-19 severity is not clear. This two-center observational study of 136 adult hospitalized COVID-19 patients analyzed the association between disease severity and initial serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation (TSAT) levels. Serum iron levels were significantly lower in patients with mild RF than in the non-RF group; however, there were no significant differences in iron levels between the non-RF and severe RF groups, depicting a U-shaped association between serum iron levels and disease severity. TIBC levels decreased significantly with increasing severity; consequently, TSAT was significantly higher in patients with severe RF than in other patients. Multivariate analysis including only patients with RF adjusted for age and sex demonstrated that higher serum iron and TSAT levels were independently associated with the development of severe RF, indicating that inadequate response to lower serum iron might be an exacerbating factor for COVID-19.

O1-11-5 - Serum iron levels increased by cancer chemotherapy correlate the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

The pathogenesis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is not fully elucidated. We hypothesized that serum iron levels may be associated with CINV because symptoms of iron poisoning resemble the adverse effects of chemotherapy. Patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy were included in this retrospective study where serum iron level, unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC), total iron-binding capacity, and ferritin were available prior to and on days 2 and 8 of chemotherapy. Fifty-two patients were analyzed. Iron levels on day 2 were markedly increased in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC, 231.0 ± 45.0 µg/dl) and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC, 226.6 ± 44.2 µg/dl), and mildly increased in patients receiving low emetogenic chemotherapy (LEC, 104 ± 51.4 µg/dl). Significant differences in iron levels on day 2 were observed between the HEC and LEC (P = 0.002) and MEC and LEC (P = 0.0007) groups. UIBC levels decreased on day 2 (18.0 ± 17.5 µg/dl in HEC, 20.4 ± 46.8 µg/dl in MEC, and 123.9 ± 65.9 µg/dl in LEC). There were significant differences in UIBC on days 2 between the HEC and LEC (P = 0.0005) and MEC and LEC (P = 0.0015) groups. No significant changes in these parameters were observed in a minimal risk group. Iron levels increased according to the emetogenic risk. Accompanied by a markedly increased iron level, non-transferrin bound iron, a highly cytotoxic form of iron, may be present in the serum. Iron removal with an iron-chelating agent may represent a novel antiemetic therapy in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Serum iron levels increased by cancer chemotherapy correlate the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

BackgroundThe pathogenesis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is not fully elucidated. We hypothesized that serum iron levels may be associated with CINV because symptoms of iron poisoning resemble the adverse effects of chemotherapy.MethodsPatients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy were included in this retrospective study where serum iron level, unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC), total iron-binding capacity, and ferritin were available prior to and on days 2 and 8 of chemotherapy.ResultsFifty-two patients were analyzed. Iron levels on day 2 were markedly increased in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC, 231.0 ± 45.0 µg/dl) and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC, 226.6 ± 44.2 µg/dl), and mildly increased in patients receiving low emetogenic chemotherapy (LEC, 104 ± 51.4 µg/dl). Significant differences in iron levels on day 2 were observed between the HEC and LEC (P = 0.002) and MEC and LEC (P = 0.0007) groups. UIBC levels decreased on day 2 (18.0 ± 17.5 µg/dl in HEC, 20.4 ± 46.8 µg/dl in MEC, and 123.9 ± 65.9 µg/dl in LEC). There were significant differences in UIBC on days 2 between the HEC and LEC (P = 0.0005) and MEC and LEC (P = 0.0015) groups. No significant changes in these parameters were observed in a minimal risk group.ConclusionsIron levels increased according to the emetogenic risk. Accompanied by a markedly increased iron level, non-transferrin bound iron, a highly cytotoxic form of iron, may be present in the serum. Iron removal with an iron-chelating agent may represent a novel antiemetic therapy in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The impact of obesity on brain iron levels and α-synuclein expression is regionally dependent

Background: The importance of iron homeostasis is particularly apparent in the brain, where iron deficiency results in impaired cognition and iron accumulation is associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Obesity is linked to iron deficiency systemically, but the effects of obesity on brain iron and its associated consequences, including neurodegenerative processes remain unexplored. This preliminary study examined the effect of dietary-induced obesity on brain regional iron, α-synuclein expression, and F2-isoprostane (oxidative stress marker) concentrations in selected brain regions.Objective: The objective of the study was to elucidate the vulnerability of selected brain regions (e.g. midbrain, hippocampus) to the possible process of neurodegeneration due to the altered iron content associated with obesity.Methods: Twenty-one-day-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed with a high-fat diet (60% kcal from fat) or a control-fat diet (10% kcal from fat) for 20 weeks. Brain samples were collected and dissected into hippocampus, midbrain, striatum, and thalamus regions. Iron content, ferritin H (FtH) and α-synuclein protein and mRNA expressions, and F2-isoprostane were measured in selected regions.Results: The results indicated that obesity caused significant differences in iron levels in the midbrain and thalamus, but not in the hippocampus or striatum, compared to control mice. Furthermore, markers of neurodegeneration (α-synuclein mRNA expression and F2-isoprostanes) were increased in the midbrain.Discussion: These results support previous findings that brain iron metabolism responds to environmental stress in a regionally distinct manner and suggests that alterations in brain iron metabolism due to obesity may be relevant in neurodegeneration.

The Role of Micronutrients in Alopecia Areata: A Review

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common, non-scarring form of hair loss caused by immune-mediated attack of the hair follicle. As with other immune-mediated diseases, a complex interplay between environment and genetics is thought to lead to the development of AA. Deficiency of micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals may represent a modifiable risk factor associated with development of AA. Given the role of these micronutrients in normal hair follicle development and in immune cell function, a growing number of investigations have sought to determine whether serum levels of these nutrients might differ in AA patients, and whether supplementation of these nutrients might represent a therapeutic option for AA. While current treatment often relies on invasive steroid injections or immunomodulating agents with potentially harmful side effects, therapy by micronutrient supplementation, whether as a primary modality or as adjunctive treatment, could offer a promising low-risk alternative. However, our review highlights a need for further research in this area, given that the current body of literature largely consists of small case-control studies and case reports, which preclude any definite conclusions for a role of micronutrients in AA. In this comprehensive review of the current literature, we found that serum vitamin D, zinc, and folate levels tend to be lower in patients with AA as compared to controls. Evidence is conflicting or insufficient to suggest differences in levels of iron, vitamin B12, copper, magnesium, or selenium. A small number of studies suggest that vitamin A levels may modify the disease. Though understanding of the role for micronutrients in AA is growing, definitive clinical recommendations such as routine serum level testing or therapeutic supplementation call for additional studies in larger populations and with a prospective design.

Assessment of iron concentrations in wastewater, soil and vegetable samples grown along Kubanni Stream Channels in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

The concentration of iron was determined in wastewater, soil and vegetable (carrot, lettuce, onion, spinach, cabbage, tomato and okro) samples that were collected on seasonal basis from January, 2013 to September 2014 along Kubanni stream channels in Zaria. The results showed iron levels in wastewater were in the range of 3.85 – 42.33mg/L for the year 2013 and 15.60 – 72.08 mg/L in 2014; 0.96 – 12.73mg/Kg for the year 2013 and 4.93 – 18.24 mg/Kg in 2014 for the soil while the vegetables had concentrations in the range of 3.80 – 23.65mg/Kg for the year 2013 and 7.48 – 27.15 mg/Kg in 2014. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in iron levels across the locations and seasons for wastewater, soil and vegetables analyzed. Pearson correlation showed moderate (r = 0.527) relationship between iron levels in wastewater for the year 2013 and 2014, moderate (r = 0.526) relationship was also obtained for the soil between these two years likewise, moderate (r = 0.597) relationship was obtained for vegetables cultivated in 2013 and that of 2014 respectively. Iron concentrations obtained in this study was higher than maximum contaminant levels set by Standard Organizations such as W.H.O. and F.A.O for wastewater while the soil and vegetables were within the limits set by these bodies. Keywords: Iron level, Kubanni River, Soil, Vegetable and Wastewater

The influence of iron level on corrosion of high-pressure die-cast LM24 alloy

Iron is a detrimental alloying element for aluminium alloys; however, it is essential for facilitating die ejection in high-pressure die-casting process. Hence, studying the effect of iron on the corrosion performance of HPDC aluminium alloys is useful to find an optimal iron content for a specific alloy. Four LM24 alloys with 0.6 wt.% Fe, 0.8 wt.% Fe, 1.2 wt.% Fe and 2 wt.% Fe additions have been examined in this study. In addition to the differences in iron levels, the copper and manganese contents varied in two alloys. The corrosion performance of the alloy specimens was evaluated by electrochemical noise and electrochemical polarisation measurements, and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy. The microstructures of the individual alloy specimens were observed by scanning electron microscopy prior to and after each corrosion evaluation experiment. The results show that more corrosion products accumulated in the alloys with higher iron additions, and this led to reduction of cathodic reaction rates in the aqueous aggressive chloride solution. An increased Mn/Fe ratio causes the distribution of iron-rich phase particles and cathodic sites across the surface of the alloy. Hence, the compositional potential gradient of the phases throughout the surface decreases. In addition, the potential gradient of the phases also depends on the surface roughness of the phase particles; therefore, the alloys with the larger iron-rich phase particles show the highest potential gradients.

Coinfection with HIV-1 alleviates iron accumulation in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Most chronically-infected hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients have increased levels of iron in the liver. Iron overload reduces sustained responses to antiviral therapy, leading to more rapid progression to liver cirrhosis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, it is still unclear how HIV-1 infection affects iron status in patients chronically infected with HCV. The present study recruited 227 patients from a village in central China. These patients were either monoinfected with HCV (n = 129) or coinfected with HCV/HIV-1 (n = 98). Healthy controls (n = 84) were also recruited from the same village. Indicators of iron status, such as serum levels of iron, ferritin, and transferrin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (Tfs), and hepcidin, were analyzed and compared across the three groups. The results showed that serum levels of iron (p = 0.001) and ferritin (p = 0.009) and the Tfs (p = 0.002) were significantly higher in HCV-monoinfected patients than in the healthy controls; however, there were no differences in iron levels and Tfs between HCV/HIV-1 coinfected patients and healthy controls. Additionally, although serum hepcidin levels in HCV-monoinfected and HCV/HIV-1-coinfected patients were lower (p<0.001) than those in health controls, the levels in coinfected patients were higher (p = 0.025) than those in HCV-monoinfected patients. Serum iron and ferritin levels in HCV-monoinfected patients were positively correlated with serum ALT/AST. Serum transferrin levels were negatively correlated with ALT/AST levels. The levels of iron in the serum of coinfected patients with a CD4+T-cell count <500/µl were lower than those in patients with a CD4+T-cell count ≥500/µl, whereas serum hepcidin levels showed the opposite trend. Taken together, these results suggest that coinfection with HIV-1 alleviates iron accumulation caused by chronic HCV infection. Our study indicated that determining the status of serum iron and other iron-associated parameters will be helpful to understand the complexity of alternations in iron distribution in HCV/HIV-1-coinfected patients.

Serum Level of Some Minerals during Three Trimesters of Pregnancy in Iranian Women and Their Newborns: A Longitudinal Study.

Concentrations of various trace elements are altered during pregnancy with changes in the mother's physiology and the requirements of growing fetus. The aim of the present longitudinal study was to learn the changes of micronutrients Iron (Fe), Calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn) Magnesium (Mg) and copper (Cu) of pregnant woman and their relations with newborns levels. Serum levels of iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium and copper of 162 pregnant women and their newborns were determined by an inductively couple plasma mass spectrometer (ICP/MS). The results showed that majority (41%) of pregnant women were in age group 26-36years 55% had high school and diploma levels of education and the total income ranged between 3 and 5 Rials million per month There was significant difference in iron levels during first, second and third trimesters, 76.0±17.8, 63.5±15.2 and 70.1±14.4μg/dl respectively. Significant difference was shown in zinc levels 79.5±15, 74.5±16.1, and 65.3±14.9μg/dl during three trimesters. Copper levels during pregnancy were significantly different (130.9±43.5, 172.0±38.94, 193.2±28.5μg/dl. The serum levels of calcium and magnesium during pregnancy were constant (Ca: 8.96±0.48, 8.86±0.47, 8.91±0.42mg/dl and Mg: 2.10±0.21, 2.08±0.28, 2.09±0.29mg/dl). Results showed that 13% of pregnant women had hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia. Thirty eight percent and 42% of pregnant women had iron and zinc deficiency respectively. In this study, unlike zinc, no pregnant women were found deficient in serum copper levels. Calcium, iron, zinc, copper and magnesium levels in the newborn's cord blood were 8.93±0.43, 106.0±26.1, 85.35±16.6, 57.04±13.8 and 1.99±0.27mg/dl respectively. In the present study the levels of iron and zinc in cord blood were higher than the levels of iron and zinc in maternal serum. The mean level of copper in cord blood serum in the current study was lower than maternal values. The mean serum calcium and magnesium in the serum cord blood and in the serum of the pregnant women were similar.

Increased serum ferritin predicts the development of hypertension among middle-aged men

We aimed to examine the relationship between iron status and hypertension as few studies have addressed this. We analyzed the association between ferritin/total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and the subsequent development of hypertension. A total of 8,580 men who visited the Health Promotion Center for a medical checkup in 2005 were followed-up after 4 years. Of the 8,580 men who were not hypertensive at baseline, 818 were found to be hypertensive at the 4-year follow-up. Compared with those who remained normotensive, these hypertensive subjects had higher levels of ferritin and TIBC at baseline, but had no significant difference in iron levels. After adjustment for age and body mass index (BMI), the odds ratios (OR) was substantially higher for new hypertension (OR 1.54, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1.26-1.88; P for trend <0.001) in subjects with the highest ferritin quartiles compared with those in the lowest quartiles. The association of serum ferritin levels with the incidence of hypertension was unchanged after adjustment for baseline blood pressure (BP). Adjustment for insulin resistance as measured by the homeostasis model assessment and the presence of a fatty liver reduced the magnitude of the OR for hypertension (first quartile reference, fourth quartiles OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.01-1.53, P for trend = 0.012), but did not affect their statistical significance. Serum ferritin, but not iron level, was a significant predictor of hypertension in middle-aged Korean men. Fatty liver disease and insulin resistance may be mediators of this high ferritin-hypertension association.

Cancer as a Ferrotoxic Disease: Are We Getting Hard Stainless Evidence?

Iron is an essential mineral to all human tissues. Incorporated in the heme complex, it is necessary for the hemoglobin-borne transport of oxygen and generation of ATP in the electron transport chain. But iron may also have direct toxic effects, and iron uptake is con- sequentially tightly regulated in the human body ( 1 ). Recognizing the pro-oxidative properties of iron and its tendency to accumulate with age in properly nourished individuals, investigators have hypothesized that iron might be involved in the causation of many of the chronic diseases that are linked to a Western lifestyle ( 2 - 4 ), and believers have coined the term ferrotoxic disease ( 5 ). For example, sex differences in iron levels have been hypothesized to contribute to the differences between men and women in the risk of cardiovascular disease ( 6 ). cancer occurrence (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.65, 95% confi dence interval (CI) = 0.43 to 0.97; P = .036) than the 641 patients in the control arm. Patients who developed cancer in the iron reduction group had higher mean ferritin levels across all follow-up visits than those in the same intervention arm who did not develop cancer, suggesting that the treatment advantage could have been even bigger if compliance had been better. Furthermore, the 38 iron-reduced patients who developed cancer during follow-up had lower risks of death from cancer (HR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.21 to 0.72; P = .003) and all-cause mortality (HR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.29 to 0.83; P = .009) in the fairly short period that passed between cancer diagnosis and end of follow-up than the 60 control patients who were also diagnosed with cancer. Zacharski et al. ( 14) should be congratulated on their efforts. Their trial is both innovative and well executed; its only major limitation is that it was not designed to study cancer as the outcome and that the present report is based on an ad hoc analysis. This could have been a serious threat to the validity of the conclusions if the investigators had dredged data for many specifi c outcomes or combinations of outcomes. In this case, however, it seems as if the cancer analyses were second on the list after cardiovascular out- comes, and the authors commendably restricted themselves to only one aspect, namely incidence of total cancer. It is not clear, however, what is meant by visceral cancer and why the authors chose this as the outcome and not total cancer. Are the fi ndings biologically plausible? Strikingly, cumulative risk curves for the intervention and control groups began to sepa- rate at 6 months, ie, after only one phlebotomy. In fact, almost all the effects observed in the present study between the phlebotomy arm and control arm regarding cumulative incidence were seen within the fi rst 2 years of entry to the study. The authors speculate that late-stage effects of iron depletion on already established tumors might be prominent, but we remain skeptical. The observed risk difference is unexpected in terms of both timing and magnitude. Moreover, although a higher proportion of lung can- cers in the control group may partly explain the observed marked advantage for iron-depleted vs nondepleted cancer patients as far as cancer-specifi c and all-cause mortality is concerned, there are

Age, gender, and hemispheric differences in iron deposition in the human brain: An in vivo MRI study

It is well known that iron accumulates in the brains of patients with various neurodegenerative diseases. To better understand disease-related iron changes, it is necessary to know the physiological distribution and accumulation of iron in the human brain. Studies have shown that brain iron levels increase with aging. However, the effects of gender and hemispheric laterality on iron accumulation and distribution are not well established. In this study, we estimated the brain iron levels in vivo in 78 healthy adults ranging in age 22 to 78 years using magnetic susceptibility-weighted phase imaging. The effects of age, gender, and hemispheric location on brain iron levels were evaluated within the framework of a general linear model. We found that the left hemisphere had higher iron levels than the right in the putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, thalamus, and frontal white matter. We argue that the hemispheric asymmetry of iron content may underlie that of the dopaminergic system and may be related to motor lateralization in humans. In addition, significant age-related iron accumulation occurred in the putamen, red nucleus, and frontal white matter, but no gender-related differences in iron levels were detected. The results of this study extend our knowledge of the physiological distribution and accumulation of iron in the human brain.

Iron status in a multiethnic population (age 36–80 yr) in northern Norway: the SAMINOR study

Northern Norway consists of a multiethnic population of Sámi and non-Sámi. We evaluated iron status in these two groups with respect to gender, age and residence. In 2002-2004, a cross-sectional study of health and living conditions in areas with both Sámi and Norwegian populations, SAMINOR, was performed in northern Norway. In total, 16,538 men and women between the age of 36 and 79 yr, participated. Response rate was 60.9%. Information about ethnic belonging, s-ferritin and transferrin saturation were available in 14,873 persons (54.8% of the invited sample). A questionnaire delivered at attendance had several questions on family background language and self-perceived ethnicity. Sámi men and women living in the inland areas had significantly higher mean s-ferritin than non-Sámi living in the same area (P < 0.0001). The inland Sámi also had significantly higher s-ferritin than the coastal Sámi and non-Sámi populations, both genders (P < 0.013). S-ferritin increased with increasing age for all women, while the opposite was true for men. Lifestyle factors had impact on s-ferritin level. Also mean transferrin saturation was higher at the inland residents but significant only for the male participants. The results from our analyses indicate that individuals living at the inland areas have higher s-ferritin and transferrin saturation than the coastal population. There were also differences in iron levels between Sámi and non-Sámi groups at the inland areas. Iron levels are influenced by lifestyle factors. The observed differences in iron levels might therefore be explained by nutritional habits.

Iron concentrations and distributions in the parkinsonian substantia nigra of aged and young primate models

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neuronal degenerative brain disease of the elderly, and is caused by the selective degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) region of the brain, resulting in a reduced production of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Iron has been linked to dopaminergic cell death in Parkinson's disease because of its potential to promote free radicals, leading to oxidative stress. The present study is aimed at using the techniques of nuclear microscopy to elucidate the iron concentrations and distributions in the SN of both young and old monkeys following unilateral 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-lesioning. A group of three old monkeys (older than 7 years) and a group of three young monkeys (younger than 7 years) were unilaterally MPTP-lesioned (right side) to induce parkinsonism and sacrificed after 35 days. The left side SN was used as a control. This time interval was chosen to correspond to an average 50% loss of dopamine producing cells in the lesioned right side SN. We have observed a significant difference in iron concentrations between the SNs of the young and old monkeys (increasing from an average of 233 to 1092 parts per million dry weight). When comparing the lesioned and non-lesioned SNs of the same animal, we found no significant difference in iron levels for each young monkey. However we have found a slight increase in iron (approximately 10%) between the lesioned SN and control SN for old monkeys. We have also observed that in the SN of younger primates, there is a weak anti-correlation in the SN iron levels with the neuron distribution. In the older monkeys, however, we have observed a proliferation of iron-rich granules, which appear to be more strongly anti-correlated with the distribution of neurons. The iron-cell anti-correlation occurs both in the control as well as the lesioned SN. Our results suggest that iron, particularly in the form of iron-rich deposits, accumulates in specific sites in the SN with age. Since Parkinson's disease mainly occurs in the elderly, this may implicate iron as a factor in dopaminergic cell death through iron-catalysed free radical production.

Increased iron in the substantia nigra of 6-OHDA induced parkinsonian rats: a nuclear microscopy study

The trace elemental concentrations, including iron, in the substantia nigra (SN) of a 6-OHDA induced rat model of Parkinson's disease were measured using nuclear microscopy. Only rats that exhibited amphetamine induced rotation of more than 7 turns/min were used. The results showed that the iron levels were significantly increased in the 6-OHDA lesioned SN, compared with the intact contralateral SN, and the SN of normal control rats injected with ascorbic acid, which showed no significant difference in iron levels between injected and non-injected sides. In both 6-OHDA lesioned and ascorbic acid injected SN, there were no alterations in the levels of calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc. In the 6-OHDA lesioned SN there was an almost complete loss of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells in the SN. These results suggested that the 6-OHDA induced dopaminergic cell death may be related to the increased iron.

Increased iron in the substantia nigra of 6-OHDA induced parkinsonian rats: a nuclear microscopy study

The trace elemental concentrations, including iron, in the substantia nigra (SN) of a 6-OHDA induced rat model of Parkinson's disease were measured using nuclear microscopy. Only rats that exhibited amphetamine induced rotation of more than 7 turns/min were used. The results showed that the iron levels were significantly increased in the 6-OHDA lesioned SN, compared with the intact contralateral SN, and the SN of normal control rats injected with ascorbic acid, which showed no significant difference in iron levels between injected and non-injected sides. In both 6-OHDA lesioned and ascorbic acid injected SN, there were no alterations in the levels of calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc. In the 6-OHDA lesioned SN there was an almost complete loss of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells in the SN. These results suggested that the 6-OHDA induced dopaminergic cell death may be related to the increased iron.