Quantitative assessment of body iron stores in anemic populations

Objective To quantitatively estimate the body iron stores(BIS) among anemic populations in rural areas of Henan province,China.Methods Level of serum ferritin(SF) and soluble transferrin receptor(sTfR) were measured for each anemic subject.BIS was calculated with the equation:BIS(mg/kg)=-log(sTfR/SF)-2.8229/0.1207.BIS levels and their distribution in different populations were evaluated and the differences in BIS level between iron deficiency anemia and non-iron deficiency anemia subjects were assessed.The correlations of BIS to hemoglobin(Hb),SF and sTfR were analyzed and the quantum dependency relationship between BIS and Hb was explored in four studied populations.Results The average levels of BIS were 11.1?2.7 mg/kg,5.9?6.5 mg/kg,12.8?4.1 mg/kg,and 11.4?5.3 mg/kg in observed subgroups of adolescent girls,women of childbearing age,male elderly,and female elderly,respectively.After dividing the subjects of each subgroup into iron deficiency anemia(IDA) and non-iron deficiency anemia(non-IDA),we found that BIS level of IDA group in subgroup of adolescent girls was 0.02?5.43 mg/kg and BIS level of non-IDA group was 11.39?1.99 mg/kg.BIS level of women of childbearing age in IDA group was 0.42?4.66 mg/kg and that of in non-IDA group was 10.82?2.93 mg/kg.BIS level of male elderly in IDA group was-4.59?6.78 mg/kg and that of in non-IDA group was 12.39?3.16 mg/kg.BIS level of female elderly in IDA group was 3.11?2.03 mg/kg and that of in non-IDA group was 13.8?2.64 mg/kg.The differences in BIS level between IDA and non-IDA groups were all significant in the four populations(P<0.01 for all).BIS level positively correlated to Hb level and the Pearson coefficients between them were all significant in the four populations studied.BIS was dependent on the level of Hb and the linear equation could be established for the four subgroups,respectively.Conclusion BIS is a good indicator which could comprehensively reflect the iron status in anemic population.