Relationship between vitamin D, iron, and hepcidin in premenopausal females, potentially confounded by ethnicity.

Purpose: To investigate the associations between vitamin D, hepcidin, and iron status in premenopausal females of different ethnic cohorts residing in Auckland, New Zealand (NZ).

Methods: A total of 160 females aged 18-45 years participated in a cross-sectional study. Demographics, body composition, serum 25(OH)D, inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, IL-6), and iron biomarkers (serum ferritin, haemoglobin, soluble transferrin receptor, and hepcidin) were measured.