Iron homeostasis in older adults: balancing nutritional requirements and health risks.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of iron homeostasis and aging without new empirical data or systematic search methodology
PubMed 38489995 · doi:10.1016/j.jnha.2024.100212
What was done
This narrative review synthesized literature on dietary iron forms, physiological absorption, storage, recycling, and the impact of aging on iron homeostasis. It reviewed clinical assessment methods for body iron status and strategies to maintain iron balance in older adults based on existing guidelines.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative data or statistics. It qualitatively summarizes that aging can cause iron dyshomeostasis via deficiency, overload, or both concurrently, leading to associated pathologies, and notes that periodic clinical evaluation and adherence to daily intake guidelines are warranted.
Why it matters
It emphasizes that older adults are vulnerable to both iron deficiency and iron excess, pointing clinicians toward careful status assessment rather than indiscriminate iron supplementation.
Limits
As a narrative review, it presents no original empirical data, sample size, or systematic methodology. The abstract lacks quantitative effect estimates, specific diagnostic thresholds, and comparative intervention outcomes.
Cited by
- supports The human body has difficulty excreting or eliminating excess iron.
- supports The human body lacks an active physiological mechanism to excrete excess iron.