Iron deficiency without anaemia

Reduced iron stores (ferritin below 30 µg/L, transferrin saturation below 20%) with normal haemoglobin. Presents with fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and brittle hair and nails. Iron therapy is considered in women with heavy menstrual bleeding and in symptomatic patients.

ICD-10 E61.11 drug

Also known as: Latent iron deficiency, Low ferritin without anaemia

Drugs used for this condition

BIron oral (salts: sulfate, bisglycinate, fumarate, gluconate, polymaltose; heme iron polypeptide, lactoferrin)Case-by-case decision · Oral iron preparations; antianaemic agentsIron use in low ferritin without anaemia (endurance athletes, after blood donation, with heavy menstrual bleeding) is decided individually. British Society for Haematology 2021 accepts treatment at ferritin below 30 mcg/L with fatigue symptoms. NIH ODS 2024 states that routine intake in asymptomatic people with normal haemoglobin is unjustified. The dose is set by tolerability – 40–60 mg of elemental iron on alternate days. Ferritin is rechecked at 8–12 weeks. Ferritin and transferrin testing precede a course, not «iron for energy» on Instagram advice.

How to read tiers A–F

Evidence tiers belong to the drug-indication pair, not to the drug as a whole: the same substance can be A for one condition and F for another.

AStrong evidence – first or second line in international guidelines
BRecommended in selected cases
CStudy data contradict each other
DBenefit not proven, no documented harm
FDocumented harm, or risk without benefit