The purpose of this review is to examine current research on the iron
status of the elderly and factors that influence the body burden of ir
on. Studies of noninstitutionalized elderly individuals report mean ir
on intakes that meet current Recommended Dietary Allowances for iron.
Dietary practices that may decrease iron bioavailability, and hence ir
on stores in the body, include low intakes of ascorbic acid or high in
takes of calcium, and decreased consumption of highly available iron f
rom meat, fish, and poultry. Although not well documented, the effect
of age on iron absorption and iron excretion appears to be small, and
body stores of iron increase with age. It is difficult to estimate the
prevalence of iron deficiency in elderly persons, because impaired ir
on status can be the result of iron deficiency or chronic disease. Fur
ther study is necessary to determine whether red blood cell ferritin a
nd serum transferrin receptors may be useful biochemical markers to di
fferentiate the anemia of chronic disease from iron deficiency anemia.
Hereditary hemochromatosis is a genetic disease that greatly increase
s the body burden of iron and the risk of hepatic disease among homozy
gotes. Because iron deficiency or iron excess may impair health, the r
ole of icon in diseases associated with aging such as depressed immune
response, neurological dysfunction, cancer, and heart disease is disc
ussed.