What is the acceptable range of iron levels?
iron levels in the body are measured using three different tests. One of these measures normal serum iron present in the blood, the other measures the amount of transmission in the bloodstream and the third measures the amount of ferritin. Normal levels are between 60 and 170 micrograms per deciliter (MCG/DL) for serum iron, 240 to 450 mcg/dl for transferrin and 12 to 300 nanograms per millilitr (ng/ml) ferritin for men. The acceptable ferritin range for women is between 12 and 150 ng/ml.
iron in the blood is used as a primary component of hemoglobin, which is vital for transporting oxygen around the body. If there is no hemoglobin in the blood, the body cannot move oxygen from the lungs to certain parts of the body. This causes breath and fatigue commonly associated with anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is a common form of condition.
Iron levels can be increased using foods such as red meat, eggs, nuts, beans, lentils, oatmeal and spinach. DailyIron intake depends on gender and age and the necessary level is drastically increased in pregnant women. At the age of 14 to 18, men need 11 milligrams (mg) of iron daily and women need 15. Between 19 and 50 years, men need only 8 mg of iron a day, but women need 18 mg. If a woman is pregnant, she should consume 27 mg of iron a day, which corresponds to 27 ounces roasted beef sirloin.
Serum iron testing is the first test used to determine iron levels in the blood. Anything between 60 and 170 mcg/dl is a normal amount of serum iron in the blood. Less than this level can indicate insufficient iron consumed in diet, anemia, chronic menstrual bleeding or pregnancy. Higher than this may indicate hemochromatosis, hepatitis or iron poisoning.
Transfer level measurement is anotje method of seeking iron levels in the blood. Transferrin helps transfer iron to the body and normal levels are between 240 and 450 mcg/dl. Anything above this may indicate an anemia of iron deficiency or latePregnancy and everything lower can testify to sickle -shaped anemia or cirrhosis.
The third and most reliable method of measuring iron levels includes a view of the amount of ferritin in the blood. Men should have between 12 and 300 ng/ml in their blood and women should have between 12 and 150 ng/ml. If the patient has less than this standard amount, he may indicate an iron deficiency anemia. Hodgkin's lymphoma, hemochromatosis or alcoholic liver disease could indicate higher than this level.