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What Causes High Iron Content In Blood?

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Posted on Wed, 27 Jul 2016
Question: My blood work showed a high level of iron--what should I look at in my diet to off set this?

What is the normal iron level?
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Information about elevated serum iron.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

An elevated iron level alone is hard to interpret. When a person has an elevated iron level in the blood, then other iron tests are needed to be able to put the result in context. So the next step would be to check

Total iron binding capacity
Transferrin
Ferritin

Here is a link to information of interpreting these tests, once you have them done:
https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/serum-iron/tab/test/

Frequent consumption of alcohol, particularly wine, can cause a higher amount of iron in the blood.

Exposure to lead can also increase iron levels.

The normal range for serum iron is 50 - 176 micrograms per deciliter but this range may vary from one lab to the next.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3133 Questions

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What Causes High Iron Content In Blood?

Brief Answer: Information about elevated serum iron. Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, An elevated iron level alone is hard to interpret. When a person has an elevated iron level in the blood, then other iron tests are needed to be able to put the result in context. So the next step would be to check Total iron binding capacity Transferrin Ferritin Here is a link to information of interpreting these tests, once you have them done: https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/serum-iron/tab/test/ Frequent consumption of alcohol, particularly wine, can cause a higher amount of iron in the blood. Exposure to lead can also increase iron levels. The normal range for serum iron is 50 - 176 micrograms per deciliter but this range may vary from one lab to the next. I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.