While haemoglobin reflects whether an individual is anaemic or not, it may or may not necessarily be an indicator of your body’s iron stores. You may have normal haemoglobin levels and still have iron deficiency, also referred to as non-anaemic iron deficiency. During early stages of iron deficiency, a decreased serum ferritin level is a sign of decreased iron stores. Low ferritin levels indicate depleted iron reserves, while high ferritin levels indicate inflammation and can be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Interestingly, obesity and iron deficiency are the two most common nutritional disorders worldwide and studies found a higher rates of iron deficiency in obese than normal-weight individuals.

Source: Indian Express August 25, 2017 20:20 UTC