American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 18, 256-260, Copyright © 1966 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Interrelationships Between Estrogenic Activity, Serum Iron and Ascorbic Acid Levels During the Menstrual Cycle

¹ From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas

Plasma iron and total iron-binding capacity, hematocrit, hemoglobin and blood ascorbic acid levels were measured on alternate days throughout two complete menstrual cycles in six healthy young women. Estrogen activity was measured daily by the vaginal cornification index. Several statistically significant changes in these measured parameters were observed. The mean plasma iron levels were depressed 32 per cent during menstruation from premenstrual control levels. A paired sample analysis indicated that changes in plasma iron levels were correlated to cyclic changes in the estrogen activity and to both the hematocrit and hemoglobin changes, although the changes in hematocrit and hemoglobin, per se, were insignificant.

The blood ascorbic acid levels were 13 per cent lower during menstruation and correlated statistically with changes in plasma total iron-binding capacity throughout the menstrual cycles. Mean plasma total iron-binding capacity was increased approximately 12 per cent during menstruation.