American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 24, 469-474, Copyright © 1971 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Total liver storage iron in normal populations of the USA

¹ Professor of Pediatrics; Head, Division of Hematology, Department of Pediatrics, the Gwynne Hazen Cherry Memorial Laboratories, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine
² Chemical Engineer, The Institute for Biological Research, Los Angeles, California

Liver samples obtained from 259 individuals who died acutely from disease or trauma were analyzed for nonheme iron and the results expressed in mg/100 g liver tissue. Grouping of the individuals according to sex, age, and cause of death showed that the group of 99 males 20 years and older who died traumatic deaths had mean values of 23.8, and the 68 who died from disease had mean values of 23.7. All other groups, both male and female, had mean values in the 12 to 16 range. Evidence is presented that levels of 5 mg or less are indicative of depletion to the extent that iron deficiency anemia may be present or anticipated. Values of less than 5 in females between 20 and 50 years had a prevalence of 40%. In those over 50 it was 13% and in all other groups it was under 10%.

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