Iron levels - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

Greenoctopus18 · 10-22-2003, 05:44 PM

Hello. I was just wondering what my iron levels should be and what would be considered too high.
12 months ago I had blood tests done that showed I had very low iron and very low stored iron levels. I was told to increase iron intake over 12 months and see how it is going then.
I got tested and the results back today and was told that my stored iron is 41 and it only needs to be over 15 to be considered normal. So is 41 too high or ok? What would be considered too high?
I can't find anything anywhere else.
I am 19 years old and female.
Thanks.

zuzu8 · 10-22-2003, 09:01 PM

Hey there Greenoctopus-
You're fine!

Iron tests are a group of blood tests that are done to evaluate the iron level in blood serum, the body's capacity to absorb iron, and the amount of iron actually stored in the body.

There are four different types of tests that measure the body's iron levels and storage. They are 1)iron level test, 2)total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) test, 3) ferritin test, and 4)transferrin tests.

The Ferritin test is the one that measures the level of a protein in the blood that stores iron for later use by the body. (i.e. this would be the 'stored iron" test)..

Normal ferritin values for adult pre-menopausal females (that's you!) is usually 20-120 ng/mL .

Some labs and studies say 12-200
Others say the normal reference range is 12-160

So, 41 is not high at all. Unless your other iron tests are abnormal, then I would relax and forget all about it.

zuzu xx