Treatment of Serum Ferritin Deficiency Regardless of Hemoglobin Level
November 2012
in “
Blood
”
TLDR Raising serum ferritin levels can improve symptoms like fatigue and hair loss, even if hemoglobin levels are normal.
The study assessed the benefits of raising the lower reference value of serum ferritin to 50 ng/mL, as the current lower normal value (12 ng/mL) might be sufficient for normal hemoglobin levels but inadequate for the proper functioning of other organs such as hair, muscles, and brain. The study included females aged 15-70 who had issues with oral iron treatments. Patients were tested before and after one month of intravenous iron infusion. All groups showed clinical and laboratory improvement, indicating that treating low serum ferritin levels, even with normal hemoglobin, could alleviate symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, and general weakness. The study suggested that the lower normal value of serum ferritin should be increased to ensure overall organ function.