Iron
Iron is a mineral the body uses to carry oxygen in the blood and to produce energy.
Iron is a mineral the body uses to carry oxygen in the blood and to produce energy. Most of it sits in haemoglobin in the red blood cells, and the rest is stored for later use. This test measures the iron circulating in the blood at the time of sampling. Retesting shows how it changes over time.
Iron in the blood shifts during the day and with recent meals, so the time of sampling matters. Intake from food, how well iron is absorbed, menstruation, blood donation and iron supplements all play a part. A recent cold or infection can lower the value for a while.
Foods that help
Meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, legumes, tofu, whole grains and dark leafy greens provide iron. Eating vegetables or fruit rich in vitamin C at the same meal, such as peppers, citrus or berries, helps the body take up iron from plant foods.
Foods to limit
Coffee and tea with meals, and large amounts of calcium at the same meal, reduce how much iron is absorbed. Large iron supplement doses taken without a reason raise iron beyond what the body needs.
Track it through the year
One value is a snapshot. Following it up shows whether what you changed is working.
Related markers
Educational information only — not a diagnosis. Every result is checked against safe limits, and anything critical is escalated for follow-up.
See all 84 markers →