Iron is critical for the production and action of red blood cells. Deficiency of iron may have many causes. These include bleeding from the GI track, inadequate absorption, inadequate intake, and menstrual losses in females.

Regardless of the underlying cause, chronic deficiency of iron will lead to iron deficiency anemia (IDA).

Normal Iron Ranges:

It’s important to have at least yearly laboratory studies to surveil for abnormalities. Normal results of iron testing may be different for men, women, and children. Iron and TIBC are measured in micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL). Normal results for iron are:

• 65 to 175 mcg/dL for men
• 50 to 170 mcg/dL for women
• 50 to 120 mcg/dL for children

Normal results for TIBC are 250 to 450 mcg/dL for men and women.

To correct or prevent IDA, iron supplementation is recommend in some patients. Iron absorption is very inefficient. It take a long time to develop IDA and as long if not longer to correct it with oral supplementation. This is why we recommend some patient condor getting iron infusion.

For most, oral supplements are adequate. There are different formulary of iron supplement with varying degree of absorption.

Heme iron  and  iron bisglycinate have been shown to have much better absorption than ferrous sulfate formulary.

This is why we recommend:

Heme Iron or 

Iron bisglycinate.