A doctor explained when to take iron supplements

If tests show that the blood ferritin level is below 30 µg/L, this may indicate anemia. In such a case, it is best to discuss taking iron supplements with a doctor, pediatrician Irina Litvinova (Tarasova) from the Attribute clinic told "Gazeta.Ru."

"There is no unified position regarding threshold ferritin values today: Russian clinical guidelines for children and adults define iron deficiency as a ferritin level below 11 µg/L, the WHO defines it as below 12 µg/L for children under 5 and below 15 µg/L for children over 5 and adults, while values between 15 and 30 µg/L fall into a 'gray zone,' meaning they may indicate a possible iron deficiency, requiring evaluation of medical history and sometimes additional parameters. However, in clinical practice, a threshold of less than 30 µg/L is more commonly used to detect iron deficiency in adults. The higher the chosen normal range boundary, the greater the likelihood of not missing a single person with iron deficiency," the doctor explained.

In addition, the doctor emphasized that ferritin is sensitive to inflammation and can increase tenfold, for example during an infectious process, so normal values do not always rule out iron deficiency.

"As can be seen, the normal range boundary is conditional. That is precisely why interpreting ferritin values is not about relying on a single reference number, but rather analyzing the data of a specific individual: age, sex, complaints, recent infections, the presence of chronic diseases and risk factors for iron deficiency anemia, as well as iron metabolism indicators taken together. In terms of effectiveness, therapy with ferrous iron preparations is most preferable: sulfate or gluconate. Widely used ferric iron preparations are recommended as first-line therapy according to domestic clinical guidelines," the doctor noted.

It is also important to include iron-rich foods in the diet: beef and chicken liver, eggs, seafood, beans, and others. Iron dietary supplements contain exclusively preventive, not therapeutic doses, and also lack standardized quality control — and therefore are not recommended for the correction of iron deficiency anemia.