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Background: The aim was to define reference values for hemoglobin, hematocrit and erythrocyte indices, i.e. erythrocyte count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), in normal pregnancy and after a normal delivery in non-iron-supplemented and iron supplemented women.Methods: Two hundred and six healthy Danish women included at 9-18 weeks of gestation were allocated to treatment with placebo tablets (n=107) or tablets containing 66 mg iron (n=99). Blood samples were obtained at inclusion, every fourth week during gestation, and 8 weeks postpartum.Results: All hematologic indices were significantly lower in placebo-treated than in iron-treated women. In placebo-treated women, the 5th percentile for hemoglobin was 110 g/L in the 1st trimester; in the 2nd trimester it was 105 g/L in the first and the second, and 103 g/L in the last third; in the 3rd trimester, it was 102 g/L in the first, 100 g/L in the second, and 101 g/L in the last third; postpartum it was 113 g/L. In iron-treated women, the 5th percentile for hemoglobin was 111 g/L in the 1st trimester; in the 2nd trimester it was 109 g/L in the first, 106 g/L in the second, and 103 g/L in the last third; in the 3rd trimester, it was 105 g/L in the first and second, and 110 g/L in the last third; postpartum it was 123 g/L.Conclusions: Hematologic reference values should be derived from iron replete women. We suggest that the lowest critical hemoglobin value in iron-treated pregnant women should be 110 g/l (6.8 mmol/L) in the 1st trimester, and 105 g/L (6.5 mmol/L) in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim was to examine the relationships between serum ferritin and risk factors for ischaemic heart disease (physical activity, body mass index, tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, serum total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressures).Design: Epidemiological population survey performed at the Copenhagen County Centre for Prevention of Disease in 1982-84.Subjects: The participants were selected at random from the census register and comprised 2235 healthy Caucasian Danes, all non-blood-donors (1044 men and 1191 women), in cohorts of 30, 40, 50 and 60 years of age. The participants gave a detailed medical history and had a clinical examination including blood samples.Main Outcome Measures: In both men and women, all risk factors displayed a significant increase with age. In men aged 40-60 years, significant positive associations were found between serum ferritin and the following risk factors: body mass index, alcohol intake, serum triglycerides, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. There was a significant negative association between serum ferritin and tobacco smoking. There was no association between serum ferritin and physical activity, serum total cholesterol or serum HDL cholesterol. In women aged 40-60 years, significant positive associations were found between serum ferritin and the following risk factors: body mass index, alcohol intake and serum triglycerides. There was no association between serum ferritin and physical activity, tobacco smoking, serum total cholesterol, serum HDL cholesterol or blood pressure.Conclusions: Associations were found between serum ferritin and some risk factors for ischaemic heart disease in men and women. The clinical significance of these findings remains to be clarified. One may hypothesize that the 'missing link' between serum ferritin and ischaemic heart disease in men is the relationship between serum ferritin, serum triglycerides and blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]