Blood Disorders Forum - Iron saturation levels low

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Have you just been diagnosed with anemia? Learn how doctors define anemia...plus more information on what causes anemia and who is at risk of developing anemia....

Q: Iron saturation levels low

asked by: mstrombe on September 18th, 2008

Experienced User

Recently after a blood test was done, I found out my iron saturation levels are low, but all my other iron levels are fine and i am not anemic. I understand what iron saturation is, but i dont understand what causes it to be low and if i can fix it. i have been eating more iron lately (more meat, spinach, plums, etc. -- all iron-rich foods)
i am a 23-year-old woman with light periods and a pretty healthy diet (i eat fruits and veggies, dairy, whole grains, etc. but up until recently I hadnt been eating that much meat)
I guess what i want to know is if this is potentially serious (caused by something else) the doctor wasnt very helpful in answering my questions. thanks!

Replies(4)

fratina

replied on October 2nd, 2008

New User

Iron saturation level

Hello,

Since you are young and healthy and eating well, it probably isn't anything to be concerned about, but low iron saturation may indicate a need to increase your body's iron stores. Supplementation should be done with care and under medical supervision, because too much iron can actually be worse (and harder to treat) than too little.

For now, you can eat iron-rich foods (at the same time as some vitamin C, [aids absorption], and several hours separate from any high calcium source [hinders absorption].

Do you have your lab results? How far below the lab's scale was your saturation? Are there plans to check it again in a few months?

gak

replied on January 25th, 2009

New User

iron saturation

when they are testing for iron saturation what are they testing for?

MillieKay

replied on October 29th, 2009

New User

Low Iron

I am curious because Iron levels are low as well. The saturation was a 9 which it says is low. The binding was high at 608 , iron 56 and ferritin was low at 13. I have been waiting 10 days for pathology to interpret the smear. It is very hard to be patient.

hkolln

replied yesterday 14:55

New User

My 15 yr old daughter is anemic. We just found out a few weeks ago and she's taking Feosol. So far she's feeling much better but her iron saturation was very low at a 5 and her ferritin at a 9, iron serum is a 22. What does this all mean? I'm so new to this.

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