Iron Deficiency Impacts Immune Function

Iron Deficiency Impacts Immune Function

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.Irondeficiency is associated with impaired innate and adaptive immune function inolder women, according to a study conducted at Pennsylvania State University (AmJ Clin Nutr, 79, 3:516-21, 2004) (www.ajcn.com).

Researchers drew blood from 72 homebound elderly women andclassified them as iron deficient or iron sufficient. Iron deficient womens Tcell proliferation when confronted with mitogens was less than half that of ironsufficient women; respiratory burst was also significantly less in irondeficient women. The study concluded iron deficiency may therefore make olderadults more susceptible to infections, though further studies are needed onimmune response and morbidity.