Serum Iron and Transferrin Saturation in Women with Special Reference to Women with Low Transferrin Saturation

Abstract

Serum Fe and total Fe binding capacity (TIBC) were determined in a population sample of 1,462 women in age strata between 38-60. Serum Fe and TIBC values were similar in the various ages studied, but with a slight trend towards higher serum Fe and lower TIBC values in the upper ages. Transferrin saturation was used to divide the material arbitrarily into women with and without Fe deficiency. The dividing point chosen was 16%. The women defined as Fe deficient, had lower mean Hb values than women in the total sample, and were more often anemic. They had also lower MCV [mean corpuscular volume], MCH [mean corpuscular Hb], MCHC [MCH concentration] indices than women in the total population sample. Of these indices, MCH seemed to discriminate the state of Fe deficiency better than MCV and MCHC. Except for an increased mean menstrual blood loss on obvious cause of Fe deficiency could be found in these women with low transferrin saturation.