Non-Anemic Iron Deficiency: Correlations Between Symptoms and Iron Status Parameters

This study examined the correlation between symptoms and iron status in 554 non-anemic menstruating women aged 18–50 years. It found that iron deficiency, indicated by low serum ferritin (SF) levels, was significantly associated with recent hair loss and restless legs syndrome. Specifically, hair loss was more common in women with SF levels ≤20 µg/l, while restless legs syndrome was linked to SF levels ≤50 µg/l. The study suggested that non-anemic iron deficiency could affect quality of life, and recommended considering iron supplementation if these symptoms were reported in primary care.