Open AccessReference Ranges of Iron Profiles in Apparently Healthy Elderly in Sokoto, Nigeria
Author(s) -
Festus Uchechukwu Onuigwe,
Nancy C Ibeh,
GI Amilo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of complementary and alternative medical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2456-6276
DOI - 10.9734/jocamr/2021/v16i230281
Subject(s) - soluble transferrin receptor , ferritin , serum iron , transferrin saturation , iron deficiency , total iron binding capacity , transferrin , medicine , serum ferritin , physiology , immunology , iron status , gastroenterology , anemia
Background: Iron is an important micronutrient in the body, lead to anaemia, frailty and cognitive disorders in the elderly when deficient.
Aim: This study was aimed to determine reference values of iron profile in apparently healthy elderly persons in Sokoto and compared with the local reference values.
Study Design: This was a comparative study
Duration of Study: The study lasted for a period of one year between January to December, 2020.
Methodology: This was a comparative study involving 105 apparently healthy elderly persons aged 60 years and above in Sokoto metropolis. Serum iron and total-iron binding capacity (TIBC) were determined using Iron Ferrozine method. Serum ferritin, Serum transferrin (Tf) and Serum Transferrin Receptors (sTfR) were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Transferrin Saturation (TS) and Serum Transferrin Receptors ferritin log (sTfR/FL) was calculated. Data were expressed as percentiles, mean and standard deviation and analysed using t-test and one way ANOVA.
Results: The study established reference ranges of Serum iron,TIBC, Serum ferritin, Tf, sTfR, TS and sTfR/FL was calculated. in Sokoto. The study showed that iron and ferritin have high reference ranges than the local values in Sokoto. The local values for TIBC, ferritin, sTfR, TS and sTfR/FL were not available. Mean Ferritin (µg/L), sTfR (ng/L) and sTfR/Fl the test subjects were significantly higher in males than females in Sokoto (p=0.026), (p= 0.001), (p=0.044) and (p= 0.003) respectively. Iron, ferritin and TS increased as the BMI was increasing (p=<0.001).
Conclusion: In conclusion, normal reference values obtained in this study notably vary with the local reference ranges used in the Sokoto metropolis. There is a need for each locality to have separate reference ranges for the elderly for their proper diagnosis and management of iron related disorders.