IRON (Serum)

High levels of iron in the serum are associated with too much iron, vitamin B6 or vitamin B12. 

Some specific causes of high iron might be: 

• anemia where the blood cells rupture, called hemolytic anemia

• iron overdose, where you have consumed more iron than what your body requires and can successfully deal with

• an overload of iron, where your body is not eliminating iron as it should

• liver health issues such as hemosiderosis, hemochromatosis, liver failure or hepatitis

• too many blood transfusions

• lead poisoning

• use of birth control pills

Low iron levels can be caused by a number of factors. For example, your diet may not contain enough iron-rich foods such as red meats, liver, blackstrap molasses, beans, spinach and leafy green vegetables, eggs, and apricots. Even a vitamin C deficiency affects the absorption of iron in the diet, and it’s possible that if you’re low in vitamin C, you won’t absorb enough iron from other foods.

If you are a woman in the child-bearing years, then heavy menstrual periods could contribute to low iron levels. That’s because blood is exiting the body at high levels – and taking iron with it.

Some specific causes of low iron might be: 

- Acute or chronic blood loss, including from ulcers or bleeding from the GI tract

- Anemia (iron-deficiency, sickle cell, vitamin B6 deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, vitamin C deficiency)

- Pregnancy

- Heavy menstrual bleeding

- Bone marrow conditions

- Infections

- Hypothyroidism

- Kwashiorkor (malnutrition)

- Associated with blood loss during surgery

Iron is an essential element required for the production of hemoglobin. Without it, red blood cells cannot reproduce in the body. Doctors are also finding a connection of iron to hair regrowth in the body.