Iron Level Determinants; Diet or Genetic

Introduction: iron deficiency is the most common world wide nutritional problem. the importance of genes and nutrients interaction in the prevention and treatment of a number of chronic diseases is recognized within last ten years. mutation in hfe protein for c282y and h63d may possess a selective advantage and likely increase iron absorption and mean transfer-rin saturation level, suggesting that hfe mutations may protect against iron depletion and iron deficiency anaemia. the aim of this study was to assess the role of hfe polymorphisms and dietary factors in variations of iron status. materials and methods: genomic dna was isolated from 125 whole blood samples and analysed for c282y and h63d mutations by dhplc technique, using transgenomic nucleic acid fragment analysis system (wave®). results were validated and confirmed by dna nucleotide sequencing. blood samples were analysed for haemoglobin, pcv, mcv, mchc, ferritin, and transferrin receptor. dietary data was collected using 7-day weighed inventories of diet.