Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0240066 (iron deficiency)
 7,156 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Iron should not be prescribed to middle-aged men or older women with anaemia unless the possibility that the iron deficiency is caused by a gastrointestinal tumour has been considered. Thus the prescribing of iron to elderly people was investigated by studying four different prescription statistics and by reviewing records. Over one in 10 women aged over 65 were prescribed iron tablets. Men and women in the oldest age groups were prescribed iron most frequently. The reasons for prescribing iron were examined at a rural health centre. Out of 327 records of patients who were prescribed iron during 1975, 157 were randomly selected and reviewed. Only 18 out of 48 (38%) patients aged 45-75 (men) and 55-75 (women) and 29 out of 109 (27%) aged over 75 years had probable or possible iron-deficiency anaemia as established from the records. Only nine (19%) of the younger patients had a plausible reason for the anaemia other than a bleeding tumour. Ten (9%) of the older patients were considered to be inoperable cases. Thus, according to the records, only 18 (17%) of the patients over 75 years and nine (19%) of those in the younger age group have been prescribed iron. About 70% of all the patients were considered not to have iron deficiency; 7% had had iron deficiency previously, and 20% probably had anaemia as a result of chronic disease; for 43% no real reason for the iron prescription could be found in the record. Thus it is concluded that iron is overprescribed in Sweden, particularly for elderly people. It should not be prescribed until the possibility of a bleeding gastrointestinal tumour has been excluded.
 ...
PMID:Overprescribing iron tablets to elderly people in Sweden. 31 8

Small doses of iron (5 to 20 mg) were used to study absorption in normal and mildly iron-deficient men. Plasma iron concentration was measured before and at frequent intervals after ingestion of iron. Men with normal iron stores showed little change in plasma iron levels, while mildly iron-deficient men showed large increases. This consistent observation of increases in plasma iron levels indicates that the iron tolerance test using small doses of iron is a sensitive indicator of iron deficiency. It provides a means of studying iron absorption without the use of radioactive tracers.
 ...
PMID:A small-dose iron tolerance test as an indicator of mild iron deficiency. 670 Jan 2

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 hyperlipidaemia, i.e. 256 men and 154 women. Serum iron was positively correlated with protein intake (p = 0.11; p < 0.05) and transferrin saturation was inversely correlated with fat intake (p = - 0.12; p < 0.05). A positive iron balance (serum iron > 27 mumol/l and transferrin saturation > 45%) was found in 1.6% of the male subjects, a frequency which could be explained by the presence of the hemochromatosis genes. A negative iron balance (serum iron < 10 mumol/l and tranferrin saturation < 15%) was found in 13.7% for women aged 21-49 yr, 3.7% for women aged 50-77 yr and 3.5% for men aged 21-77 yr. We found no association between low-fat diet and iron deficiency. Men with iron deficiency had 12% decrease in total calorie intake compared to the Recommended Dietary Allowance. Our results do not provide evidence that hypolipidemic diet is associated with a high frequency of iron deficiency.
 ...
PMID:[Relationship between iron status and diet in 410 hyperlipidemic patients]. 929 78

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder worldwide and accounts for approximately one-half of anemia cases. The diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is confirmed by the findings of low iron stores and a hemoglobin level two standard deviations below normal. Women should be screened during pregnancy, and children screened at one year of age. Supplemental iron may be given initially, followed by further workup if the patient is not responsive to therapy. Men and postmenopausal women should not be screened, but should be evaluated with gastrointestinal endoscopy if diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. The underlying cause should be treated, and oral iron therapy can be initiated to replenish iron stores. Parenteral therapy may be used in patients who cannot tolerate or absorb oral preparations.
 ...
PMID:Iron deficiency anemia: evaluation and management. 2331 81