RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IRON STATUS AND DIET IN 410 HYPERLIPIDEMIC PATIENTS

In order to examine the influence of a low-fat diet on iron status, we carried out a study which involved 410 out-patients with hyperlipidae mia, i.e. 256 men and 154 women. Serum iron was positively correlated with protein intake (rho = 0,11 p < 0,05) and transferrin saturation w as inversely correlated with fat intake (rho = -0,12;p < 0,05). A posi tive iron balance (serum iron > 27 mu mol/l and transferrin saturation > 45 %) was found in 1,6 % of the male subjects, a frequency which co uld be explained by the presence of the hemochromatosis genes. A negat ive iron balance (serum iron < 10 mu mol/l and tranferrin saturation < 15 %) was found in 13,7 % for women aged 21-49 yr, 3,7 % for women ag ed 50-77 yr and 3,5 % for men aged 21-77 yr. We found no association b etween low-fat diet and iron deficiency. Men with iron deficiency had 12 % decrease in total calorie intake compared to the Recommanded Diet ary Allowance. Our results do not provide evidence that hypolipidemic diet is associated with a high frequency of iron deficiency.