Understanding Your Iron Levels: What Does it Mean?

You’ve probably heard about iron deficiency anemia. When your iron levels are off, you might notice symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, or even heart palpitations. But did you know there are different blood tests that can diagnose if you have iron deficiency?

What is Iron?

Iron is a mineral in your body that is responsible for many bodily functions. It's a part of the hemoglobin that carries oxygen from your lungs to the tissues in your body. 

Your body can't produce enough healthy red blood cells when you lack iron. This leads to iron deficiency anemia. Iron helps turn food into energy. It also supports your brain and keeps your immune system strong.

Iron Deficiency Symptoms

You may wonder, how would you know if your iron levels are not okay? People with iron deficiency experience these symptoms:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches and dizziness
• Cold hands and feet
• Brittle nails
• Restless legs syndrome

However, these symptoms can also indicate other conditions. That's why relying on symptoms alone isn't enough. You need a blood test to diagnose iron deficiency.

Blood Tests for Your Iron Levels

When you’re experiencing symptoms of iron deficiency, your doctor may recommend that you get a series of blood tests known as the Iron Group. It’s a collection of blood and mineral biomarkers that check how your body stores, transports, and uses iron. 

What Each Iron Biomarker Tells You

• Ferritin: This is a protein that stores most of the iron in your body. High levels of ferritin may signal inflammation or too much iron. Low levels indicate that our iron stores are low.
• Hemoglobin (Hb): This shows how well your red blood cells carry oxygen. Low hemoglobin levels indicate anemia.
• Serum Iron: This shows the amount of iron in your blood. High iron levels happen when you take too much iron, have genetic conditions, or use iron supplements too often. Low iron levels mean you might have iron deficiency, which leads to anemia.
• Transferrin Saturation (TS): This shows how much iron transferrin, a transport protein, is carrying. A high TS level may mean you have too much iron in your body.
• Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC): This test measures how well your blood can bind iron. Usually, when TIBC is high, it means that iron levels are low.
• Hematocrit (Hct): The percentage of red blood cells in your blood shows how well your body carries oxygen. Similar to hemoglobin, this also reflects your oxygen-carrying ability.
• Red Blood Cell Distribution Width (RDW): This looks at the differences in the size of your red blood cells. It helps identify the types of anemia you may have.
• Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC): These show the average amount and concentration of hemoglobin in your red blood cells. They also help to identify different types of anemia.

Combining All Biomarkers Together

It's important to look at patterns in lab results instead of just individual numbers. For example, having low serum iron, high TIBC, and low ferritin usually means you have iron deficiency anemia. On the other hand, high ferritin, high serum iron, and high transferrin saturation (TS) may indicate you have too much iron.

When the total iron binding capacity is high but iron is normal, it could signal an early stage of iron deficiency. In some cases, iron binding capacity is low and ferritin is high, often leading to inflammation or chronic disease.

Your iron levels are affected by several factors too—your diet, menstruation, pregnancy, and chronic health conditions. That's why it's important to have a complete blood panel to cover all iron biomarkers.

How to Keep Your Iron Levels in Check

• Have a Clean Diet: Eat a balanced diet that includes heme iron from meat and non-heme iron from plant-based foods. Eating vitamin C-rich foods with non-heme iron helps your body absorb it better.
• Supplement with Iron: Sometimes, you might need iron supplements. You can take iron supplements if you’re pregnant, you have heavy menstrual periods, have poor iron absorption, or have iron deficiency anemia. Take iron supplements as directed by your doctor.
• Change Your Lifestyle and Habits: Your lifestyle also affects your iron levels. Drink enough water and exercise regularly. Avoid certain medications, calcium-rich foods, and tannins in tea and coffee. Those can slow down your iron absorption.
• Monitor Your Iron Levels: If you’re at risk of or have symptoms of iron deficiency or overload, get tested. Mito Health has a comprehensive lab test that covers the iron group. Join us and work with our top doctors to understand your results. You’ll receive a personalized health plan based on your results.

Reflecting on Your Iron Health

Your iron levels are essential for your health. Iron plays a key role in your overall well-being, energy, and immune system. So, if you’re feeling symptoms of iron deficiency or overload, it’s important to get a blood test.

Once you receive your results, consult with your doctor about how you can improve your iron levels. By combining it with healthy eating, lifestyle changes, and professional advice, you can take charge of your health.