Objective To examine the associations between measures of iron status and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in South African women.

Design The study was cross-sectional in design. Demographic information and health history were obtained during individual interviews using validated questionnaires. Anthropometric indices, iron indices, blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid profiles were measured using standard procedures. Iron status was assessed using serum concentrations of ferritin, transferrin receptor and transferrin receptor to ferritin ratio.

Setting North West Province of South Africa.

Subjects 1262 apparently healthy black South African women (>35 years).

Results Associations between iron status parameters and CVD risk factors were generally weak (r<0.3, p<0.01) and were not retained when age, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption and C reactive protein were adjusted for in the analysis. Waist circumference (WC) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were higher in the fourth quartile of serum ferritin than the third, also, in the third quartile compared to second quartile (p<0.05). 31% and 52% of the women had excess abdominal obesity as indicated by WC and WHR respectively. The mean (95% CI) serum transferrin receptor concentration {9.09 μg/l (8.77, 9.44)} was high indicating risk of iron deficiency. The mean (95% CI) concentrations of lipids {TC=4.78 (4.64, 4.93), HDL-C=1.45 (1.39, 1.52), LDL-C=1.65 (1.53, 1.78), TG=1.12 (1.07, 1.18) mmol/l} were within recommended reference ranges.

Conclusions No significant association exists between iron status parameters and established CVD risk factors. But, excessive abdominal adiposity indicated by high WC and WHR contributes significantly to increased serum ferritin concentration in this population.