Iron Panel Pattern Viewer for Athletes

An iron panel combines several markers of iron storage, transport and availability, and reading them together usually gives a more complete picture than one result alone.2 This viewer shows which of the patterns described in my articles your ferritin, transferrin saturation, hemoglobin and CRP resemble, and why inflammation and training can make the numbers misleading. It does not diagnose and it does not tell you whether to take iron.

Ferritin (µg/L = ng/mL)
Transferrin saturation % (optional)
Hemoglobin compared with your lab’s reference range
CRP

Why one number is not enough

Ferritin reflects iron stores but also rises with inflammation.2 Transferrin saturation shows what share of the iron-carrying protein transferrin is loaded with iron, a measure of circulating iron available for making red blood cells.2 Hemoglobin can fall from dilution in endurance athletes, and it can stay normal while iron stores are already low.8,12 Reading them together is what separates the patterns.

Thresholds used

Some laboratories use ferritin lower reference limits of about 12–15 µg/L.11 Ferritin below 30 µg/L is a commonly used cut-off for iron deficiency, although the optimal level for athletes is debated.8 A transferrin saturation below about 16–20% may suggest reduced iron availability; it is not a diagnosis on its own.2

References

Every figure and statement in this tool is linked to a source: the original study where my article cites one, otherwise my own article on the topic. The small numbers in the text refer to this list.

  1. Bärtsch et al. 1998. [Pseudo-anemia caused by sports]. Ther Umsch.
  2. Dr. Antti Rintanen: Iron Panel Interpretation for Athletes: 7 Key Points About Female Athletes
  3. Risser et al. 1988. Iron deficiency in female athletes: its prevalence and impact on performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc.
  4. Garza et al. 1997. The clinical value of serum ferritin tests in endurance athletes. Clin J Sport Med.
  5. Nabhan et al. 2020. Serum ferritin distribution in elite athletes. J Sci Med Sport.
  6. Weight et al. 1991. Athletes’ pseudoanaemia. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.
  7. Dr. Antti Rintanen: Microcytic Anemia: Causes, Key Blood Tests and Treatment Explained
  8. Solberg and Reikvam 2023. Iron Status and Physical Performance in Athletes. Life (Basel).
  9. Reinke et al. 2012. Absolute and functional iron deficiency in professional athletes during training and recovery. Int J Cardiol.
  10. Kardasis et al. 2023. The IRONy in Athletic Performance. Nutrients.
  11. Dr. Antti Rintanen: Which Blood Tests Do Athletes Actually Need? A Doctor’s Evidence-Based Guide
  12. Fellmann 1992. Hormonal and plasma volume alterations following endurance exercise. A brief review. Sports Med.

Sources

This tool is based on the articles below and the studies cited in them:

This tool is for general education. It does not diagnose, interpret your own results, give personal recommendations or replace an assessment by your doctor.