Jerniveau

Jerniveau is a term used in Danish and Norwegian contexts to describe the concentration of iron in the body, commonly assessed in medical settings to evaluate iron status. Iron is an essential nutrient involved in oxygen transport, energy production, and several enzymatic processes, and maintaining adequate iron levels is important for health.

Iron status is typically evaluated with multiple laboratory tests that together reflect stored iron and circulating iron. The main measurements are serum ferritin, serum iron, transferrin saturation, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). Ferritin reflects stored iron in the body, while serum iron indicates the amount of circulating iron. Transferrin saturation, calculated as serum iron divided by TIBC, shows how much transferrin is loaded with iron. Ferritin is also an acute-phase reactant and can rise in inflammation independently of iron stores, which can complicate interpretation.

Interpretation of results depends on the overall clinical context. Low ferritin generally indicates depleted iron stores and possible iron deficiency, especially when accompanied by low serum iron and high TIBC or low transferrin saturation. High ferritin can indicate iron overload or inflammation, while high serum iron and high transferrin saturation may suggest iron overload conditions such as hemochromatosis or recent transfusions. Normal ranges vary by age, sex, laboratory method, and clinical setting, so results are interpreted relative to reference values provided by the testing laboratory.

Clinically, jerniveau measurements guide the diagnosis and management of iron-related disorders, including iron deficiency anemia and iron overload syndromes, and are often used to monitor treatment or disease progression.