Iron
Iron, Total
What This Marker Tells Us
Measures iron circulating in blood bound to transferrin, revealing iron availability for red blood cell production and cellular energy.
Why It Matters
Iron is essential for hemoglobin production, oxygen transport, energy metabolism, and immune function. Low iron causes anemia, fatigue, poor exercise performance, and cognitive impairment. High iron indicates hemochromatosis, chronic inflammation, or iron overload, causing organ damage through oxidative stress. However, total iron fluctuates throughout the day and with inflammation, making it less reliable than ferritin for iron status assessment.
How to Interpret Your Trends
Low iron (below 60 μg/dL) suggests iron deficiency, blood loss, inadequate dietary intake, or malabsorption. Typical iron (60-170 μg/dL) indicates adequate iron availability for red blood cell production. High iron (above 170 μg/dL) may reflect hemochromatosis, iron overload, recent iron supplementation, or hemolysis. Context from ferritin, TIBC, and saturation refines interpretation.
What Influences This Marker
Dietary iron intake from meat, fortified foods, and supplements affects levels. Blood loss from menstruation, GI bleeding, or donation depletes iron. Inflammation paradoxically lowers serum iron while iron stores increase. Time of day affects measurements, as iron is highest in morning. Vitamin C enhances absorption while phytates and calcium impair it. Adequate dietary iron maintains healthy levels.
How Your Team Uses It
Your coach uses total iron as part of a comprehensive iron panel, never in isolation. Low iron with low ferritin confirms iron deficiency requiring supplementation. High iron prompts investigation for hemochromatosis. It's interpreted with TIBC and percent saturation for accurate iron status assessment.
Related Signals We Also Review
Ferritin, TIBC, percent saturation, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and inflammatory markers complete the iron status evaluation.