My iron saturation index was 49 percent. Is it normal?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am 57 years old. I have an iron level of 130 mcg/dL and an iron-binding capacity of 265 mcg/dL. My iron saturation index was 49 percent. Is it low for a normal woman?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Kindly attach your complete blood count report. So that I can help you better.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

You need to understand that the iron saturation index is a ratio, and it is calculated in percentage. So slight variations are considered to be normal. If you had low hemoglobin with a high iron saturation index and iron store, then we need to do a workup to find anemia of chronic diseases. Your index is slightly above the reference range (attachments hidden to protect patient identity), and it is quite normal.

For nail problems, you need to check for fungal infection. If you do not have it, you can take zinc-containing supplements for a few months. Due to the COVID-19 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic, we need to see other reasons also. Using hand sanitizers frequently can make the nails weak.

I hope this helps.