What is the normal amount of iron in the blood?

Article written by General Internal Medicine - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

Iron tests check the amount of iron in the blood to see how iron is metabolized in the body. Iron (Fe) is an essential mineral for hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Iron is also needed for energy, muscle, and good organ function.
About 70% of the body's iron is bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells. The rest is bound to other proteins (transferrin in the blood or ferritin in the bone marrow) or stored in other body tissues. When red blood cells die, their iron is released and carried by transferrin to the bone marrow and to other organs such as the liver and spleen. In the bone marrow, iron is stored and used as needed to make new red blood cells.
Iron tests help check:
The amount of iron bound to transferrin in the blood (serum); Amount of iron required to bind all transferrin. This value is called the total iron binding capacity (TIBC); The ratio of transferrin to the iron bound to them. This value is called transferrin saturation.

Order iron (Fe) test
Iron tests are done to:
Check for iron deficiency anemia; Check for iron overload (hemochromatosis); Check nutritional status; Check if iron and nutritional treatment are working. Clinical significance of test results
Iron tests check the amount of iron in the blood to see how well iron is metabolized in the body.
Normal Serum Iron
Male: 70 - 175 mcg/dL or 12.5 - 31.3 micromole per liter (mcmol/L).
Female: 50 - 150 mcg/dL or 8.9 - 26.8 mcmol/L.
Children: 50 - 120 mcg/dL or 9.0 - 21.5 mcmol/L.
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) )
Men and women: 250 - 450 mcg/dL or 45 - 76 mcmol/L.
Transferrin saturation
Men: 10% - 50%.
Female: 15% - 50%.
High and low iron values ​​Abnormally high iron levels will be above 198 mcg/dL for men and above 170 mcg/dL for women.
Abnormally low iron levels will be less than 76 mcg/dL for men and less than 26 mcg/dL for women.

Causes:
+ Increased serum iron levels: incorrect indications for iron supplementation, acute hepatitis, repeated blood transfusions, genetic primary chromosomal hyperabsorption of iron... Need to eliminate iron out of the body combined with treatment of the cause of iron overload.
+ Decreased serum iron levels: iron deficiency anemia, chronic inflammation, blood loss, cyanocobalamin poisoning...
Need to supplement iron in combination with treatment of the cause of iron deficiency.
Guidelines for monitoring and taking care of health
Eating: scientifically correct, balanced ingredients, suitable for taste and feeling of the body... Especially limiting artificial spices, flavorings, oils fat; Lifestyle - balanced work, exercise to improve general health to avoid common medical diseases; Especially women, pay much attention to the menstrual cycle, need to supplement with oral iron, eat iron-rich foods if lacking; Do not let anemia persist; Listen to your body for signs of anemia or a disease that can cause anemia; General physical examination and blood tests as soon as in doubt; Health checkup should be done at least once a year.

Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital has general health checkup packages suitable for each age, gender and individual needs of customers with a reasonable price policy, including:
Health checkup package Diamond Health Checkup Package Vip General Health Checkup Package Special General Health Checkup Package Comprehensive General Health Checkup Package Standard General Health Checkup Package Patient's examination results will be returned to your home. After receiving the results of the general health examination, if you detect diseases that require intensive examination and treatment, you can use services from other specialties at the Hospital with quality treatment and services. outstanding customer service.
To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact the nationwide Vinmec Health System Hotline, or register online HERE.