Low iron stores are related to higher blood concentrations of manganese, cobalt and cadmium in non-smoking, Norwegian women in the HUNT 2 study

Low iron (Fe) stores may influence absorption or transport of divalent metals in blood To obtain more knowledge about such associations, the divalent metal ions cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and lead (PI)) and parameters of Fe metabolism (serum terrain, haemoglobin (Hb) and transferrin) were investigated in 448 healthy, menstruating non-smoking women, age 20-55 years (mean 38 years), participating in the Norwegian HUNT 2 study. The study population was stratified for serum ferritin 257 were iron-depleted (serum terrain < 12 mu g/L) and 84 had iron deficiency anaemia (serum terrain < 12 mu g/L and Hb < 120 g/L) The low terrain group had increased blood concentrations of Mn, Co and Cd but normal concentrations of Cu, Zn and PI) In multiple regression models, ferritin emerged as the main determinant of Mn, Co and Cd (p<0.001), while no significant associations with Cu, Zn and Pb were found. Adjusted r(2) for the models were 0.28. 048 and 0.34, respectively. Strong positive associations between blood concentrations of Mn, Co and Cd were observed, also when controlled for their common association with terrain. Apart from these associations, the models showed no significant interactions between the six divalent metals studied Very mild anaemia (110 <= Hb < 120 g/L) did not seem to have any effect independent of low terrain. Approximately 26% of the women with iron deficiency anaemia had high concentrations of all of Mn, Co and Cd as opposed to 2.3% of iron-replete subjects The results confirm that low serum ferritin may have an impact on body kinetics of certain divalent metal ions, but not all Only a fraction of women with low iron status exhibited an increased blood concentration of divalent metals, providing indication of complexities in the body's handling of these metals (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.