1. What is Iron Saturation?

Iron saturation measures the percentage of transferrin (the main iron transport protein) that is saturated with iron. It helps evaluate iron status in the body and diagnose conditions like iron deficiency or iron overload.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the iron saturation formula:

Where:

• \( Iron \) — Serum iron concentration in μg/dL
• \( TIBC \) — Total iron binding capacity in μg/dL

Explanation: The equation calculates what percentage of available iron-binding sites on transferrin are actually occupied by iron.

3. Importance of Iron Saturation

Details: Iron saturation is a key indicator of iron status. Low values suggest iron deficiency while high values may indicate iron overload or hemochromatosis.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter serum iron and TIBC values in μg/dL. Both values must be positive numbers. Fasting morning samples provide most accurate results.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a normal iron saturation range?
A: Typically 20-50% for men and 15-50% for women, though ranges vary slightly by laboratory.

Q2: What does low iron saturation mean?
A: Values below 15-20% often indicate iron deficiency, which may lead to anemia if uncorrected.

Q3: What causes high iron saturation?
A: Values >45% in women or >50% in men may suggest hemochromatosis, iron overload, or recent iron therapy.

Q4: How does this differ from ferritin?
A: Ferritin measures iron stores while saturation measures circulating iron availability.

Q5: When should I get tested?
A: When symptoms suggest iron disorders (fatigue, weakness, joint pain) or when monitoring known iron abnormalities.