IRON STATUS MARKERS, SERUM FERRITIN AND HEMOGLOBIN IN 1359 DANISH WOMEN IN RELATION TO MENSTRUATION, HORMONAL CONTRACEPTION, PARITY, AND POSTMENOPAUSAL HORMONE-TREATMENT

Iron status was assessed by measuring serum (S-) ferritin and hemoglobin (Hb) in a population survey comprising 1359 nonpregnant Danish women, in age cohorts of 30, 40, 50, and 60 years; 809 were premenopausal and 550 postmenopausal. Median age for menarche was 14 years, for menopause (artificial and natural) 48 years. Premenopausal women had lower S-ferritin (median 37-mu-g/l) than postmenopausal women (median 71-mu-g/l; p < 0.0001). Of the premenopausal women, 17.7% had S-ferritin < 15-mu-g/l (i.e., depleted iron stores), and 23.1% S-ferritin of 15-30-mu-g/l (i.e., small iron stores). Corresponding figures in postmenopausal women were 3.3% and 10.3%. Hb values in premenopausal women were mean 137 +/- 10 (SD) g/l (8.5 +/- 0.6 mmol/l) vs. 140 +/- 10 g/l (8.7 +/- 0.6 mmol/l) in postmenopausal women (p < 0.0001); 4.1% of pre- and 3.3% of postmenopausal women had values < 121 g/l (7.5 mmol/l). Iron deficiency anemia (i.e., S-ferritin < 15-mu-g/l and Hb < 121 g/l) was found in 2.6% of pre- and 0.36% of postmenopausal women. Premenopausal multipara had lower S-ferritin than nulli- and unipara (p < 0.04). The use of oral contraceptives had a marked influence on iron stores; premenopausal women taking the pill had higher S-ferritin and a lower frequency of depleted iron reserves than nonusers (p < 0.01). Postmenopausal estrogen treatment had no influence on S-ferritin or Hb.