Investigation of iron metabolism level in adults in ultra-high altitude area

SUN Shuyao; WANG Suyuan; YIN Rong; LI Man; YI Wen; PU Xue; LIU Chunrong; WU Yunhong; ZHANG Chenghui

doi:10.16766/j.cnki.issn.1674-4152.004062

Volume 23 Issue 6

Jun. 2025

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Article Navigation > Chinese Journal of General Practice > 2025 > 23(6): 1045-1048

SUN Shuyao, WANG Suyuan, YIN Rong, LI Man, YI Wen, PU Xue, LIU Chunrong, WU Yunhong, ZHANG Chenghui. Investigation of iron metabolism level in adults in ultra-high altitude area[J]. Chinese Journal of General Practice, 2025, 23(6): 1045-1048. doi: 10.16766/j.cnki.issn.1674-4152.004062

Citation:

SUN Shuyao, WANG Suyuan, YIN Rong, LI Man, YI Wen, PU Xue, LIU Chunrong, WU Yunhong, ZHANG Chenghui. Investigation of iron metabolism level in adults in ultra-high altitude area[J]. Chinese Journal of General Practice, 2025, 23(6): 1045-1048. doi: 10.16766/j.cnki.issn.1674-4152.004062

Citation:

SUN Shuyao, WANG Suyuan, YIN Rong, LI Man, YI Wen, PU Xue, LIU Chunrong, WU Yunhong, ZHANG Chenghui. Investigation of iron metabolism level in adults in ultra-high altitude area[J]. Chinese Journal of General Practice, 2025, 23(6): 1045-1048. doi: 10.16766/j.cnki.issn.1674-4152.004062

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Investigation of iron metabolism level in adults in ultra-high altitude area

doi: 10.16766/j.cnki.issn.1674-4152.004062

SUN Shuyao¹
, WANG Suyuan¹
, YIN Rong²
, LI Man³
, YI Wen⁴
, PU Xue⁵
, LIU Chunrong⁶
, WU Yunhong¹
, ZHANG Chenghui^{1
,
,}

1.
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hospital of Chengdu Office of People's Government of Tibetan Autonomous Region, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China

Funds:

XZ202201ZR0037G

Received Date: 2024-03-10
Available Online: 2025-09-04

Abstract

Abstract

Objective The low oxygen concentration at high altitudes can affect iron metabolism in the human body. The purpose of this study was to explore the iron metabolism in plateau populations living at ultra-high altitude areas (from 3 500 to 5 500 m). Methods Adult volunteers living in Amdo County (4 800 m above sea level) were recruited, and they provided blood samples for analyses. Patients with alcoholism, cirrhosis, acute or chronic infection, and hematological diseases were excluded. General information was recorded, and the detection of blood routine, iron metabolism indicators, and biochemical indicators were completed. Participants were divided into two groups according to serum ferritin levels: the normal group and the iron overload group (serum ferritin ≥ 1 000 ng/mL). Regression analysis was used to screen for causes affecting ferritin. Results A total of 361 participants were included, 130 of whom were female, 231 of whom were male. Twenty-eight participants (7.8%) were diagnosed with iron overload, all were male, 23 of whom were Tibetan. Compared with the normal group, age, BMI, altitude residence time, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), erythropoietin (EPO) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the iron overload group were higher than those in the normal group. LASSO regression analysis suggested that age, high altitude exposure time, BMI, ALT, GGT, EPO, and MCHC were influencing factors of the level of serum ferritin. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the influencing factors of ferritin levels were gender (β'=-218.094, 95% CI: -301.763 to -134.425), age (altitude exposure time, β'=13.203, 95% CI: 5.850-20.557), MCHC (β'=4.602, 95% CI: 1.130-8.080), ALT (β'=1.910, 95% CI: 0.038-3.782), and EPO (β'=9.908, 95% CI: 5.027-14.790). Conclusion Elevated ferritin levels in adults living at ultra-high altitudes may be related to hypoxic adaptation. Whether high ferritin levels have adverse health effects needs further study.
- Iron metabolism,
- Iron overload,
- Ultra-high altitude,
- Erythropoietin,
- Hepcidin

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References

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Investigation of iron metabolism level in adults in ultra-high altitude area

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