What is a normal iron level

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Understanding Normal Iron Levels in the Human Body

Normal Serum Iron Levels

Serum iron levels are a critical measure of iron status in the body. For healthy individuals, normal serum iron levels vary by gender. In females, the normal range is typically between 120-200 µg/100 ml, with an average of 160 µg/100 ml. For males, the range is slightly higher, from 125-238 µg/100 ml, with an average of 182 µg/100 ml . These values are derived from sensitive and reproducible methods of serum iron determination, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

Body Iron Stores

Body iron stores can be assessed using the ratio of serum transferrin receptor to serum ferritin. In US men aged 20 to 65 years, the mean body iron stores are approximately 9.82 mg/kg. For US women aged 20 to 45 years, there are two distinct populations: 93% have an average of 5.5 mg/kg, while 7% have a mean tissue iron deficit of 3.87 mg/kg . This method is particularly useful for monitoring iron status in populations where inflammation is uncommon or has been excluded.

Ferritin Levels as an Indicator

Ferritin levels in the serum provide a quantitative measure of iron stores. Normal ferritin levels are around 69 ng/ml in men and 35 ng/ml in women. A ferritin concentration below 10 ng/ml is typically associated with iron deficiency . The British Society of Gastroenterology suggests that a serum ferritin level of ≤50 µg/L can still indicate iron deficiency, especially in the presence of coexistent pathology such as inflammation or infection .

Variations in Serum Iron Levels

Serum iron levels can exhibit diurnal and nocturnal variations. Higher values are generally observed in the afternoon and evening, while lower levels are found during the night and early morning. These fluctuations can also vary from day to day, although they are less pronounced when dietary influences are eliminated .

Conclusion

Normal iron levels in the body are essential for various physiological functions. Understanding the normal ranges for serum iron and ferritin levels, as well as the factors that influence these measurements, is crucial for accurately assessing and monitoring iron status. This knowledge helps in identifying and addressing iron deficiencies or overloads, thereby promoting better health outcomes.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

Serum iron determination.

This sensitive, reproducible method for serum iron determination using isoamyl alcohol and ferrous complex provides accurate results in the normal range for females and males.

1956·

25citations

·G. R. Kingsley et al.

The quantitative assessment of body iron.

This study presents a reliable method for estimating body iron based on the ratio of serum transferrin receptor to serum ferritin, which enhances iron status evaluation and sensitivity in iron intervention trials.

Observational StudyHighly Cited

2003·

798citations

·J. Cook et al.

Normal Blood Iron Values

Normal blood iron values are not uniformly high or low, but rather a range that is less than 1% prevalence of abnormal values in a population.

1974·

0citations

·G. Haven

[Normal and pathological laboratory results: how to define "normal" serum iron levels? (author's transl)].

Normal serum iron levels in healthy adults are lower in women, but these differences can be reduced when iron stores are quasi-normal, and disappear with supplementary iron administration.

Observational Study

1980·

0citations

·K. Beldjord et al.

Serum iron levels in ostensibly normal people.

Elevated serum iron levels in 6% of supposedly healthy individuals may be linked to abnormal liver function tests and may not be due to a specific cause.

Observational Study

1974·

20citations

·W. Crosby et al.

Ferritin in the Serum of Normal Subjects and Patients with Iron Deficiency and Iron Overload

Ferritin levels in serum are a quantitative measure of storage iron in normal subjects and those with iron deficiency or overload.

Highly Cited

1972·

502citations

·A. Jacobs et al.

A ferritin level >50 microg/L is frequently consistent with iron deficiency.

Patients with normocytic anaemia who have ferritin levels above 50 microg/L should not automatically be considered to have adequate iron stores; integrating the sTfR-F Index in their diagnostic workup can improve patient care.

Observational Study

2009·

32citations

·Anastasios Koulaouzidis et al.

DETERMINATION OF THE IRON CONTENT IN THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID

The iron content in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is generally high (> 100 pg Fe per 100 ml), with a mean value of 200 pg Fe per 100 ml reported by MESTREZAT (1912) and a range of values reported by HEILMEYER and

1966·

8citations

·K. Kjellin

Diurnal and nocturnal variations of the serum iron in normal subjects.

Plasma iron levels in normal subjects show diurnal and nocturnal variations, with high levels in the afternoon and evening and low levels during the night and early morning, with small transferrin and total protein changes in the blood-serum.

Observational Study

1973·

54citations

·W. F. Wiltink et al.

Serum ferritin as a measure of iron stores in normal subjects.

Serum ferritin is a useful tool for assessing and monitoring iron stores in normal individuals, with a high correlation to radioiron absorption measurements.

Observational StudyHighly Cited

1974·

584citations

·J. Cook et al.

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