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Query: UMLS:C0240066 (iron deficiency)
 7,156 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

An editorial in a previous issue of the New England Journal of Medicine August 17, 1978, recommends iron supplementation as a countermeasure to the iron deficiency of breast-fed infants. However, the dosage suggested may saturate the binding capacity of lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein found in human milk. Since lactoferrin, in combination with specific antibody, is essential for the beneficial bacteriostatic effects of milk against Escherichia coli, an added regimen of iron may impair this effect and prove detrimental to the infant. The question, then, of iron deficiency becomes essential. Evidence shows that the hemoglobin values of infants fed by normal mothers for approximately 7 months and infants fed by iron-deficient mothers are normal. The need for additional iron seems unlikely, especially if the infant diet is supplemented with food containing iron.
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PMID:Nutrient deficiencies in breast-fed infants. 71 38

Immunoreactive serum erythropoietin concentrations were measured in 35 patients with anaemia associated with active rheumatoid arthritis. Based on an evaluation of stainable iron in the bone marrow (marrow iron grade 0-4) and serum ferritin concentrations (concentrations less than or equal to 60 micrograms/l compatible with iron deficiency) the anaemia was found to be complicated by iron deficiency in 19/35 (54%) of the patients. The mean serum erythropoietin level (57.6 (SD) 27.3) U/l) was sufficiently raised for the degree of anaemia irrespective of the size of the marrow iron stores. Thus the data do not support the contention that suppressed secretion of erythropoietin is involved in the pathogenesis of anaemia of chronic disorders. There was a significant inverse correlation between the haemoglobin concentration and log serum erythropoietin in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In the patients with adequate iron stores, but not in the iron depleted patients, there was a tendency for serum erythropoietin concentrations to correlate positively both with C reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Red cell distribution width (mean (SD) 16.3 (1.8)%) was above normal (11.5-14.5%) both in the iron replete and the iron depleted patients, and the mean red cell distribution width values did not differ significantly among the two subpopulations. The plasma lactoferrin concentration (mean (SD) 137.6 (109.9) micrograms/l) was normal and did not differ significantly between the iron deficient patients and those with adequate iron.
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PMID:Anaemia of rheumatoid arthritis: serum erythropoietin concentrations and red cell distribution width in relation to iron status. 238 57

In many infectious diseases and in several parasitoses the iron content in the blood plasma occasionally decreases. By reduction of the saturation of the transferrins with iron the bactericidal effect of the blood plasma is increased. In these cases the iron absorption into the liver is increased and the iron excretion from the reticulohistiocytic system decreased. The oral intake of easily soluble iron compounds which goes far beyond the need repeatedly an enteral increase of germs of Yersinia enterocolitica and a transition into the blood, respectively, was stated. The parenteral administration of Fe-dextran from time to time leads to an enrichment of this compound in macrophages, the performance of phagocytosis of which is thus restricted. The iron deficiency decreases the functional capacity of the immune system. The functional ability of the T- and B-lymphocytes as well as of the macrophages is reduced. The importance of the transferrins, of haemopexin, of haptoglobin and of lactoferrin for the defense of infections is demonstrated.
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PMID:[Relation of iron supply and iron metabolism to infectious diseases and parasitoses and the competence of the immune system]. 306 36

In healthy subjects normal plasmalactoferrin (PLf) concentrations were found to be 0.206 +/- 0.06 mg/l in 49 men and 0.148 +/- 0.06 mg/l in 62 women. A highly significant correlation of PLf with the number of circulating neutrophils (PMN) and a PLf/PMN relationship suggesting proportionality was demonstrated. Among 73 patients absolute PLf concentrations were significantly increased in septicemia, cirrhosis of the liver and tumors with liver metastases, decreased in localized infection, tumors without liver involvement, iron deficiency and acute hepatitis B, and normal in acute myocardial infarction. The PLf/PMN ratio, on the other hand, was normal in liver cirrhosis, hepatitis B and in a part of the patients with septicemia and tumor disease with liver involvement. The ratio was increased in a part of the septicemic patients, and decreased in the remaining disease types. Positive PLf/PMN correlations were found in myocardial infarction, septicemia and liver cirrhosis, whereas a very close, negative correlation existed in acute hepatitis B. These findings are discussed on the basis of existing knowledge on lactoferrin physiology, the intravascular fate of PMN and the RES function.
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PMID:Plasmalactoferrin and the plasmalactoferrin/neutrophil ratio. A reassessment of normal values and of the clinical relevance. 313 91

The interrelationships between various components of the non-immune inflammatory response (white cell count, plasma lactoferrin, C-reactive protein, ferritin, iron and iron-binding capacity), were studied serially in a variety of inflammatory conditions including acute lobar pneumonia, active pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis on gold therapy and sepsis in the face of marrow hypoplasia induced by chemotherapy. Lactoferrin concentrations paralleled the white count in all groups. They were highest in pneumonia and tuberculosis, mildly elevated in rheumatoid arthritis and markedly decreased in neutropenic sepsis. Very high initial lactoferrin concentrations were associated with a poor prognosis in acute pneumonia. C-reactive protein and ferritin concentrations remained elevated through the period of study in acute pneumonia and neutropenic sepsis, while they gradually normalised over weeks in subjects with tuberculosis or rheumatoid arthritis on therapy. In pneumonia and tuberculosis moderate hypoferraemia and a reduced iron-binding capacity were evident. In contrast, a raised percentage saturation was present in neutropenic sepsis, probably related to erythroid marrow suppression. Comparisons between ferritin, lactoferrin and C-reactive protein in the various groups supported the concept that ferritin behaves in part as an acute phase reactant and that hypoferraemia in inflammation is due to deviation of iron into ferritin stores. The suggestion that lactoferrin is responsible for the hypoferraemia and hyperferritinaemia was not supported by the present data. Iron deficiency appeared to limit the hyperferritinaemic response in rheumatoid arthritis, while erythropoietic inhibition by chemotherapy dampened the hypoferraemic response in neutropenic sepsis.
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PMID:The non-immune inflammatory response: serial changes in plasma iron, iron-binding capacity, lactoferrin, ferritin and C-reactive protein. 378 68

Normal and neoplastic cells have similar needs for iron, but the latter may exhibit altered mechanisms of iron acquisition that permit continued multiplication in host iron-restricted tissues. For example, neoplastic cells may form low molecular weight siderophores as well as increase the number of transferrin binding glycoproteins on their cell surfaces. The hosts attempt to withhold iron from neoplastic cells by preventing the return of the metal to plasma and diverting it to storage, by increasing the synthesis of ferritin to accommodate the added stores, and by surrounding tumor cells with macrophages that can ingest lactoferrin-bound iron, but these mechanisms are often not effective against the iron-accumulating mechanisms of the tumor. Persons or animals with iron overload (via ingestion, inhalation, injection, or pathophysiologic process) tend to be at greater risk than normal hosts in the development of neoplasms. The tumors are often associated with the site(s) of deposition of the metal. In addition to its neoplastic cell nutrient function, excess iron might suppress tumorcidal action of macrophages and interfere with lymphocyte traffic. Severe iron deficiency can interfere with the ability of the host to detoxify potential carcinogens as well as with its ability to activate antitumor lymphocytes.
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PMID:Iron in neoplastic disease. 630 39

Iron is essential for the organism. In ionized forms (Fe++, Fe ), it constitutes an integrated part of a lot of different functional proteins (Figure 1). The most important functions are participation in oxygen transport in blood, oxygen storage in muscle tissues and oxidation of nutrients in the mitochondria. Iron is an essential part of cytochrome C and alpha-glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase, and early stages of iron deficiency may, therefore, cause disturbances in tissue metabolism before development of anaemia. Thus, haemoglobin determinations is not very suitable for diagnosing early iron deficiency. The content of iron in roughages, apart from root crops (Table II), is usually sufficient to cover the requirement of domestic animals (Table III), which is met by about 50 mg per kg feed dry matter. Iron deficiency is very often caused by a reduced absorption in the intestinal tract because of components in the feed forming complexes with iron of very low solubility or inhibitors reducing the absorption processes. The immune status of the organism and its resistance against infections depends on the iron supply. Iron deficiency inhibits the myeloperoxidase activity and thus decreases the bacteriocide effect of the leucocytes. In spite of this, when exposed to infections the physiological mechanisms reduce the blood concentration of available iron. By this mode of action, invading pathogens, needing iron like the host animals, will be restrained. The low content of iron in milk (Table II) combined with a high content of iron binding lactoferrin, is ideal to protect newborn and milk fed young animals against intestinal infections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Iron deficiency in domestic animals]. 643 95

In order to evaluate the diagnostic and pathogenetic importance of s-ferritin and p-lactoferrin in the anemia of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 38 patients were examined. Twenty-one out of 38 randomly selected anemic patients with classical or definite RA had iron deficiency, as estimated from the iron content in stained bone marrow aspiration. S-ferritin concentrations below 60 micrograms per litre had sensitivity and a specificity for iron deficiency of 86% and 88%, respectively, which was much better than such commonly used variables as s-iron, p-transferrin, MCV, and MCHC. Although this cut-off level is higher than in patients without inflammatory disease, s-ferritin was not correlated to disease activity. In 7 out of 8 patients, the s-ferritin level rose during iron therapy. P-lactoferrin values were within the normal range and did not vary with the anemia or with disease activity. Thus p-lactoferrin appears to be of no pathogenetic importance in the anemia of RA.
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PMID:Serum ferritin and the assessment of iron deficiency in rheumatoid arthritis. 665 99

Observations among milk-drinking African nomads showed an unusual freedom from infection with Entamoeba histolytica compared with similar nomads taking a mixed diet. A controlled study among Maasai pastoralists showed that the administration of iron to correct their dietary iron deficiency sharply increased their susceptibility to amoebiasis. Examination of the milk of their Zebu cattle showed that it not only had a concentration of iron below the minimum necessary for the growth of E histolytica but also contained partly saturated lactoferrin and transferrin, which may actively compete with the parasite in the colon for ambient iron. These observations suggest the possibility of a long-standing ecological compromise between nomads, their milk diet, and E histolytica.
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PMID:The salutary effect of milk on amoebiasis and its reversal by iron. 738 37

Iron deficiency and diarrhea are two of the most significant issues for global health. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, affecting nearly 25% of the world population (UNICEF/WHO 1999). The prevalence of iron deficiency in developing countries is illustrated by comparison with other deficiencies: iron deficiency affects 3.5 billion people, while vitamin A and iodine deficiency affect 0.3 billion people and 0.8 billion people, respectively. The prevalence is highest among young children and women of childbearing age (particularly pregnant women). It is estimated that national productivity levels could be raised as much as 20% by correcting iron deficiency in developing countries. Recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF), expressed and extracted from rice seed, is being evaluated by Ventria Bioscience for use as a dietary supplement to treat iron deficiency and/or iron deficiency anemia. Diarrhea is also a major world health issue. Sixty percent of children who die under age five die of pneumonia, diarrhea or measles. World Health Organization oral rehydration solution (WHO-ORS) is one of the major medical advances in the past 50 years, saving the lives of 1 to 2 million children annually. Many studies have demonstrated similar efficacy of rice-based ORS. There are studies documenting the reduced frequency of diarrhea in breast-fed children and this health improvement is attributed to the antimicrobial action of the human milk proteins lactoferrin and lysozyme. In vitro data document the growth inhibition of the diarrheal associated organisms: rotavirus, ETEC, cholera, salmonella, and shigella by human lactoferrin (hLF) and human lysozyme. Using Ventria's ExpressTec system, we have expressed human lactoferrin and human lysozyme in rice. In a rice-based ORS formulation, these proteins have the potential to provide not only the benefits of reduced stool volume and improved weight gain, but also shorten the course of diarrheal episodes via antimicrobial activity against the causative agent.
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PMID:Recombinant human lactoferrin treatment for global health issues: iron deficiency and acute diarrhea. 1522 87


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