The adverse effect of iron repletion on the course of certain infections.
Open accessAbstract
The incidence of infections was studied in 137 iron-deficient Somali nomads, 67 of whom were treated with placebo and 71 with iron. Seven episodes of infection occurred in the placebo group and 36 in the group treated with iron; these 36 episodes included activation of pre-existing malaria, brucellosis, and tuberculosis. This difference suggested that host defence against these infections was better during iron deficiency than during iron repletion. Iron deficiency among Somali nomads may be part of an ecological compromise, permitting optimum co-survival of host and infecting agent.
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Indiscriminate iron supplementation may increase morbidity and mortality from malaria, diarrhoeal illness and tuberculosis.
“Unfortunately, evidence is accumulating that indiscriminate iron supplementation may increase morbidity and mortality from malaria, diarrhoeal illness and tuberculosis57–59.”
From Iron homeostasis in host defence and inflammation (2015) · cites this paper as [57]
For tuberculosis, parenteral or oral iron increase mycobacterial growth and morbidity and mortality increase in patients receiving iron supplementation.
“For tuberculosis, it has been demonstrated that parenteral or oral iron increase mycobacterial growth [128] and that morbidity and mortality increase in patients receiving iron supplementation [129].”
From The utility of iron chelators in the management of inflammatory disorders (2015) · cites this paper as [129]
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- Authors
- Murray, M. J., Murray, A. B., Murray, M. B., & Murray, C. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- ORCID
- Murray, C J
- Venue
- BMJ
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 1978-10-21
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 6145
- Pages
- 1113-1115
- ISSN
- 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-5833
- OpenAlex
- W2073018837
- Cited by
- 453
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 7.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.bmj.com/company/legal-information/terms-conditions/legal-information/tdm-licencepolicy (tdm)
- Locations
- BMJ (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Malaria Research and Control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Genetics › Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders
- Keywords
- iron repletion, iron deficiency, infection incidence, malaria, brucellosis, tuberculosis, host defense
- MeSH terms
- Iron Deficiencies, Adolescent, Adult, Clinical Trials as Topic, Ethnicity, Female, Humans, Infections, Iron, Male, Middle Aged, Somalia
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