IRAN STATUS OF A HEALTHY FRENCH POPULATION - FACTORS DETERMINING BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS

The iron status of a representative population sample in a district of Paris area (France) was assessed using a biochemical and dietary appr oach. Complete data were obtained for 1,108 subjects 6 months to 97 ye ars old. Total iron intake increased up to adolescence and then remain ed stable in adult life. Iron intake was higher in men than in women. Most children and menstruating women presented a dietary iron intake b elow the recommended allowances. While anemia was not very common, iro n deficiency (defined as the existence of at least two abnormal Values in the four independent indicators of iron status: serum ferritin, er ythrocyte protoporphyrin, transferrin saturation and MCV) was particul arly common in infants, young children, menstruating women and elderly men. Serum ferritin, erythrocyte protoporphyrin and transferrin satur ation were significantly correlated with inflammatory markers. Signifi cant correlations were found between dietary total iron and serum ferr itin (r = 0.29, p < 0.001) and hemoglobin (r = 0.44, p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, sex and inflammation, using multiple linear regre ssion models, the relationship between both heme and nonheme iron inta ke and serum ferritin remained significant. Serum ferritin and hemoglo bin levels were negatively correlated with calcium and phosphorus inta ke.