Evaluation of body iron status in Italian carriers of beta-thalassemia trait

Iron deficiency is the most common single nutrient disorder in humans. Carr iers of beta -thalassemia have frequently been considered patients in whom iron deficiency difficulty may co-exist because dyserythropoiesis enhances enteric iron absorption. We studied 185 normal children and 146 heterozygou s children for beta -thalassemia. Furthermore, 51 normal men and 45 men wit h beta -thalassemia trait as well as 43 normal women of childbearing age an d 25 carriers of the same age were studied. Serum ferritin estimations were performed by RIA technique. No difference in iron deficiency prevalence wa s found among heterozygous children for beta -thalassemia compared to norma l children. The same was observed in adults. As for iron overload, the only statistically significant difference has been observed among men. Affected men tend to develop iron overload. Carriers of beta -thalassemia are world -wide with a high rate among people of Mediterranean ancestry and in some d eveloping countries. This condition concerns millions of people and, theref ore, physicians should be aware that iron deficiency might co-exist or deve lop in many of them. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.