If you need to know which are the iron reference ranges or you require more information about the role of iron in the blood, you can visit normal iron level in the blood
Low values of iron in the blood can be due to a heavy bleeding because bleeding cause loss of iron. The situation affects specially to women in the menstruation. For that reason, women should intake more iron in diet than men do.
If TIBC (Total Iron-Binding Capacity) is in the normal range may be a sign of iron intake deficiency. If TIBC is low may be a chronic disease.
Low iron level in the blood cause usually weakness, fatigue, headache, dizziness or dyspnea.
Iron values are usually given in µg/dl but sometimes you can see those values in µmol/l following the International System of Units (SI). In case your values are in µmol/l you can convert them using this tool:
Iron level in the blood is a bit low. It can be a consequence of a low iron intake in the diet or in case of women of blood loss by menstruation.
You should keep an eye on your diet. You should take more food rich in iron such as red meat. If you are vegetarian you can take legumes. Follow these tips and take a new blood test in a few months and it is probably that your level return to normal range.
If you feel fatigue or weakness, talk to your doctor.
Marked iron deficiency means that your iron reserves are non-existent. You may suffer a disorder known as iron deficiency anemia. You can feel fatigue, headache, dyspnea, and weakness.
It can be a consequence of blood losses due to ulcers, blood in the urine or hemorrhoids. An iron malabsorption is also a possibility. In any case, you should visit your doctor and he will decide if additional screening tests are necessary.
Your doctor, if he considers it appropriate, may prescribe you iron supplements to increase your iron blood level.
There are some circumstances than can reduce your iron level in the blood:
Lower than normal level of iron in the blood can be due to:
If you want to increase the iron level in the blood, you should eat iron-rich food. The following foods are rich in iron:
The most amount of iron is absorbed as FE2+ in the high part of the small intestine.
The trivalent form of iron and the Fe2+ component bound to the heme group require vitamin C to be absorbed. Adults absorb only 1 mg of iron daily, which is the approximate amount lost every day.
If your doctor considers it appropriate, he can give you iron supplements.
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The following values are considered to be below the normal range:
IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in µg/dL. They are an example of a healthy woman of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.
Iron | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild iron deficiency | |||||||
| 59 µg/dL | 58 µg/dL | 57 µg/dL | 56 µg/dL | 55 µg/dL | 54 µg/dL | 53 µg/dL | 52 µg/dL |
| 51 µg/dL | 50 µg/dL | 49 µg/dL | 48 µg/dL | 47 µg/dL | 46 µg/dL | 45 µg/dL | 44 µg/dL |
| 43 µg/dL | 42 µg/dL | 41 µg/dL | 40 µg/dL | 39 µg/dL | 38 µg/dL | 37 µg/dL | 36 µg/dL |
| 35 µg/dL | 34 µg/dL | 33 µg/dL | 32 µg/dL | 31 µg/dL | 30 µg/dL | 29 µg/dL | 28 µg/dL |
| 27 µg/dL | 26 µg/dL | 25 µg/dL | 24 µg/dL | 23 µg/dL | 22 µg/dL | 21 µg/dL | 20 µg/dL |
| Marked iron deficiency | |||||||
| 19 µg/dL | 18 µg/dL | 17 µg/dL | 16 µg/dL | 15 µg/dL | 14 µg/dL | 13 µg/dL | 12 µg/dL |
| 11 µg/dL | 10 µg/dL | 9 µg/dL | 8 µg/dL | 7 µg/dL | 6 µg/dL | 5 µg/dL | 4 µg/dL |
| 3 µg/dL | 2 µg/dL | 1 µg/dL | 0 µg/dL | ||||
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