Serum iron, serum transferrin and transferrin saturation in healthy children without iron deficiency

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Abstract
Serum iron, serum transferrin and transferrin saturation were studied in 253 healthy, non-anaemic children 4, 8 and 13 years old, and in 60 healthy, non-anaemic adults having serum ferritin values ≥15 μg/l. One hundred and ninety-six children had serum ferritin values ≥15 μg/l (i.e. replete iron stores), 35 had intermediate ferritin values from 10–14 μg/l and 22 had ferritin values Iron replete children showed a gradual rise in serum iron and transferrin saturation values with age. Serum iron and transferrin saturation values were lower (PPPiron depleted children a transferrin saturation value <7% yielded the highest diagnostic efficiency as regards exhausted iron stores, although with a low predictive value of a positive test. The transferrin saturation is unsuitable as a single diagnostic criterion in the evaluation of iron deficiency in children and should always be combined with other indicators of iron status.