Investigation of serum lipid levels in patients with iron deficiency anemia

Objective: Several metabolic pathways are affected by the reduction in the amount of iron in iron deficiency anemia (IDA). As a result, some hormonal control mechanisms, especially carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acid metabolism, are influenced. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of IDA on serum lipid profile. Method: Files of 30 patients with IDA and 30 healthy people (both groups aged 18-60), who consulted to internal medicine and gastroenterology clinic in Nami{dotless}k Kemal University Faculty of Medicine, were scanned. The lipid and blood parameters of these people as well as their demographics were recorded. Results: While serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were markedly lower in IDA cases than in controls, serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels did not differ in patients with IDA compared with the control group. Conclusion: It was observed that serum total cholesterol and LDL levels, whose main content is cholesterol, were decreased in IDA. We consider that reduction of iron levels changes cholesterol metabolism.