| Summary: | Iron status is influenced by several factors such as nutritional factors and blood loss. Tron deficiency is one of the most severe and important nutritional deficiencies in the world today, both in industrialised as well as developing countries [1-3]. In normal subjects the total daily loss of iron is balanced by an equivalent amount of iron absorbed from the diet. When this equilibrium is disturbed, due to lack of or too much iron, iron deficiency or overload are established. Iron deficiencies are caused by several factors as menstrual losses in fertile women, occult bleeding or a diet low in iron [4]. Iron deficiency affects several body functions even when anaemia has not developed [5]. Immune status and morbidity of all age groups are adversely affected by iron deficiency. On the other hand, iron overload can cause organ damage in severe cases [6]. Inheritance e.g. hereditary haemochromatosis thallasemia major and blood transfusion can cause severe iron accumulation. Homozygosis for the C282Y mutation of the candidate gene for haemochromatosis (the HFE gene) is a common genetic mutation, occurring in 0.3 to 0.7 % of white persons of northern European descent [7-10]. In 1995 a comprehensive health survey programme (HUNT) was conducted in Nord-Trøndelag, a county in the middle of Norway, incorporated a large screening for HH [li]. In total 65 717 (69.8%) people participated. The prevalence of hereditary haemochromatosis was 0.34% in women and 0.68% in men. Previous screening of haemochromatosis indicate that the grade of HH is increasing northward, and that hereditary haemochromatosis is most pronounced among people of north European affiliation [12]. It is even suggested that is a Viking disease [13]. In Norway iron has been added to food products since 1972. In 2002 this supplementation was removed because of concerns about iron overload in that part of the population with hereditary haemochromatosis. Recent data describing the iron status in a Norwegian population has not been collected. In northern Norway ...
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