Iron status among 3005 women aged 20–55 years in Central Norway: The Nord‐Trøndelag Health Study (the HUNT Study)

Abstract

Objective. To describe the iron status of Norwegian women of fertile age, to show the prevalence of iron‐deficiency anemia and iron overload, and to demonstrate possible factors connected to and/or influencing iron status. Material and methods. The diagnostic criteria were: (a) anemia: hemoglobin (Hb) <120, <117, or <115 g/l; (b) depleted iron stores: serum ferritin (SF)<10 or 12 µg/l; iron‐deficiency anemia: (a)+(b). Iron overload: SF ⩾110 µg/l. The study was conducted in Central Norway where a total of 3005 women aged 20 to 55 years were enrolled in a health survey program (the HUNT Study). None of the women were pregnant and none had been blood donors in the two previous years. Results. Median SF was 31.0 µg/l. Depleted iron stores were present in 10.9 and 15.1%, respectively. The Hb 2.5%tile among the iron‐replete women was 117 g/l. With this cut‐off value, anemia was present in 4.7% and iron‐deficiency anemia in about 3%. Iron overload was present among 5.2%, and homozygous primary hemochromatosis among 0.4%. Conclusions. The prevalence of iron‐deficiency anemia was relatively low and similar to that found earlier in small groups of Norwegian women. The prevalence is comparable with results from other developed countries.

• Anemia
• hemochromatosis
• hemoglobin
• iron deficiency
• iron depletion
• iron overload
• serum ferritin