Toenail and serum levels as biomarkers of iron status in pre- and postmenopausal women: correlations and stability over eight-year follow-up.

ABSTRACT: Iron status is often assessed in epidemiologic studies, and toenails offer a convenient alternative to serum because of ease of collection, transport, and storage, and the potential to reflect a longer exposure window. Very few studies have examined the correlation between serum and toenail levels for trace metals. Our aim was to compare iron measures using serum and toenails on both a cross-sectional and longitudinal basis. Using a subset of the US-wide prospective Sister Study cohort, we compared toenail iron measures to serum concentrations for iron, ferritin and percent transferrin saturation. Among 146 women who donated both blood and toenails at baseline, a subsample (59%, n = 86) provided specimens about 8 years later. Cross-sectional analyses included nonparametric Spearman's rank

SUBMITTER: Von Holle A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10798942 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature