Iron deficiency increases blood lead levels in boys and pre-menarche girls surveyed in KNHANES 2010–2011

Iron deficiency increases blood concentrations of neurotoxic metals in children

“…For example, no association was observed in studies where the subjects were older female children or adolescents53,55,60). In postmenarche women, estrogen promotes bone mineralization and redistributes blood lead into bone; thus, women have lower blood lead concentrations than men and there is no association between high blood lead levels and iron deficiency in postmenarche adolescents owing to the overshadowing effects of estrogen on lead levels61). Some studies of children with lower blood lead concentrations (11.0 µg/dL and 11.4 µg/dL) have reported no association54,58).…”

Occupational Toxicology

“…The mechanisms of iron absorption are similar to those of other divalent metals, particularly manganese, lead, and cadmium (Hurley and Keen, 1987;Mackenzie and Garrick, 2005). Men generally have higher blood lead levels than women, probably due to the effect of estrogen in premenopausal women (Sim et al, 2014). Gender differences in the disposition and toxicity of toxic metals have been reported, and there is increasing evidence that the health effects of certain toxic metals manifest differently in males and females, due to differences in kinetics, mode of action, and/or susceptibility (Vahter et al, 2002(Vahter et al, , 2004(Vahter et al, , 2007.…”

“…Another important susceptibility is the presence of coexisting disease. These metals are absorbed by the same transport system (divalent metal transporter; DMT-1) in the gut (Rehnberg et al, 1982), and a dietary deficiency in iron can lead to excess absorption of manganese (Davis et al, 1992;Kim et al, 2005;Kim and Lee, 2011;Meltzer et al, 2010), lead (Bradman et al, 2001;Choi and Kim, 2003;Hammad et al, 1996;Sim et al, 2014), and cadmium (Park et al, 2002;Ryu et al, 2004;Zoller et al, 2001;Kim et al, 2014). Patients with portal systemic shunts are unable to clear manganese or methyl mercury via biliary excretion, and thus accumulate these toxicants in their bodies (Butterworth et al, 1995;Hauser et al, 1994;Sheehan et al, 2012).…”

Effect of Iron Deficiency on the Increased Blood Divalent Metal Concentrations

“…For example, studies of older female children or adolescents reported no association of blood iron and lead levels [42,44,47]. Postmenarcheal women have lower blood lead concentrations than men, because estrogen promotes bone mineralization and redistributes blood lead into bone, and this estrogen effect overshadows the increasing effect of ferritin on blood lead level [48]. Hence, there is no association between high blood lead level and iron deficiency in postmenarcheal adolescents [48].…”

“…Postmenarcheal women have lower blood lead concentrations than men, because estrogen promotes bone mineralization and redistributes blood lead into bone, and this estrogen effect overshadows the increasing effect of ferritin on blood lead level [48]. Hence, there is no association between high blood lead level and iron deficiency in postmenarcheal adolescents [48]. Some studies of children with lower blood lead concentrations (11.0 and 11.4 μg/dL) reported no association of blood lead and iron levels [43,45].…”