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. 2015 Jul 23;7(8):6055–6072. doi: 10.3390/nu7085270

Table 1.

Criteria used to indicate the stage of iron deficiency of participants.

Stage of Iron Deficiency Cut-off Values for Females Aged 17 years and above Cut-off Values for Males Aged 19 Years and above 1
Iron sufficient SF ≥ 20 µg/L 2 and body iron ≥ 0 mg/kg 3 SF ≥ 20 µg/L 2 and body iron ≥ 0 mg/kg 3
Low iron stores SF < 20 µg/L 2 and body iron ≥ 0 mg/kg 3 SF < 20 µg/L 2 and body iron ≥ 0 mg/kg 3
Non-anemic iron deficiency Body iron < 0 mg/kg 3 and Hb ≥ 120 g/L 4 Body iron < 0 mg/kg 3 and Hb ≥ 137 g/L 4
Iron-deficiency anemia Body iron < 0 mg/kg 3 and Hb < 120 g/L 4 Body iron < 0 mg/kg 3 and Hb < 137 g/L 4

SF = serum ferritin; Hb = hemoglobin; 1 For males aged 18 years or under a Hb cut-off of <136 g/L was used; 2 Cut-off value obtained from reference [38]; 3 Cut-off value obtained from reference [39]; 4 Cut-off value obtained from reference [40].