Iron status and liver function in healthy adults: A multiracial pilot study

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1986

Abstract

We tested 157 apparently healthy, urban adults (78 black, 40 nonblack, 39 race not designated), and found that 7.7% of the entire group had high plasma ferritin levels (6.4%) or transferrin saturation levels (1.3%). Overall, men had significantly higher mean plasma ferritin, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and total serum bilirubin values than women. In this study 17.6% of black men had high plasma ferritin levels and another 11.8% had high transferrin saturation levels. Their mean serum iron and transferrin saturation levels were significantly higher than those of nonblack men. Black men had significantly higher mean serum iron, transferrin saturation, plasma ferritin, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and total serum bilirubin levels than black women. The same tests were not significantly different when black and nonblack women were compared. Likely causes of the laboratory abnormalities are occult inflammation and occult liver disease, but a primary disorder of iron metabolism is also possible. © 1986 Southern Medical Association.

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