AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate iron status and its relationships with lipid peroxidation in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: The study included 30 male patients aged between 32 and 73 years (mean 55 +/- 6) with acute MI. We measured the levels of plasma iron, transferrin (TF), ferritin (FER), ceruloplasmin (CER), cardiac enzymes, and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (e-MDA) in patients with acute MI on the admission and 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 15th, 45th post MI day and investigated the variations of these parameters in acute MI. RESULTS: The e-MDA level started to increase on the admission day and showed a peak value on the post MI 1st day (88 +/- 23 and 98 +/- 26 nmol/g Hb, respectively). Afterwards, the e-MDA level minimally changed until post Ml 45th day, which showed a minimum level (57 +/- 13 nmol/g Hb) (p < 0.05). In addition, the iron concentration of serum reached its maximum level on the 1st post Ml day (99 +/- 30 mg/dl, p < 0.05) and relatively decreased after the 3rd day. Courses of MDA and iron levels were similar. The FER level started to increase from the admission day of the patients (230 +/- 375 mg/dl), showed a mean peak value on the 3rd day (296 +/- 568 mg/dl) and decreased to a minimum level on the 45th day (121 +/- 85 mg/dl) (p < 0.05). Contrarily, the TF level started to decrease on the 1st day (221 +/- 44 mg/dl), decreased minimum level on the 3rd day (211 +/- 37 mg/dl) and continued approximately the same level until the 45th day (244 +/- 45 mg/dl) (p < 0.05). The CER level started to increase from the first day of admission of the patients (43 +/- 12 mg/dl), reached a maximum level on the 7th day (59 +/- 12 mg/dl) and similar levels were observed until the 15th day. On the 45th day, the CER level was higher than on the first day (52 +/- 13 mg/dl) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There was an association of higher iron status with increased lipid peroxidation in patients with myocardial infarction.