Table 4.

Iron status of study respondents

Iron status indicators	n 160 (n (%))
Inflammation marker
C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (mg/l)
Range of CRP levels (mg/l)	2⋅9–14⋅8
Mean [sd]	5⋅0 [2⋅1]
Elevated levels (CRP > 5 mg/l)	49 (30⋅6 %)
Serum Ferritin (SF) levels (μg/l)
Range of SF levels (μg/l)	5⋅4–323
Mean (sd)	35⋅3 [42⋅2]
Crude Iron depleted stores (SF < 15 μg/l)	34 (21⋅3 %)
SF 15–70 μg/l and CRP> 5 mg/l	38 (23⋅8 %)
Adjusteda iron stores status
Iron deficient (ID) (SF <15 μg/l or SF 15–70 μg/l and CRP > 5 mg/l	72 (45⋅0 %)

^aAdjusted iron stores for inflammation.