iron

At a glance:

What is iron

Iron is an indispensable trace element for humans. As part of the red blood pigment hemoglobin (Hb), it is involved in the transport of oxygen. Iron is mainly stored in the liver, spleen, intestinal mucosa and bone marrow. Too little iron in the body leads to deficiency symptoms, while too much iron overloads the body.

In order to get an exact value, the doctor has the iron metabolism examined, including the protein transferrin. Because iron is stored in the form of ferritin.

When is the iron value determined?

In the case of tiredness, anemia (anemia) and increased susceptibility to infections, the iron value is determined among other things. The iron value is also determined if the liver, pancreas and other organs are damaged.

How is the iron value determined?

The value is measured in the blood serum. However, the value can fluctuate depending on the day.

When is the iron value in the normal range?

The iron values ​​in men are between 9 µmol / l and 29 µmol / l in the normal range. In women between 9 µmol / l and 27 µmol / l.

Possible causes of increased iron levels

Under normal circumstances there is an equilibrium in the organism in which the iron level is relatively constant at three to four grams. Because of this, the human body has not developed an active mechanism for excreting excess iron in the body.

If the examination reveals an increased iron level, i.e. iron overload, then this can be a sign of liver damage (for example). The breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis) also increases the value.

Iron overload can also be a side effect of more frequent blood transfusions.

Possible causes of low iron levels

Too low a value can indicate an iron deficiency. Even with chronic inflammation, kidney damage and tumors, the value falls below the normal range. An iron value that is too low can be determined especially in women who have heavy or too frequent menstrual bleeding.