What best monitors iron status?

Monitoring iron status effectively requires a comprehensive approach that includes both dietary assessments and laboratory studies. Laboratory tests, such as serum ferritin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, and hemoglobin levels, provide objective data on iron stores and transport in the body. Meanwhile, dietary assessments help evaluate the quantity of iron consumed in the diet and identify potential deficiencies.

Using a combination of diet history and lab results makes it possible to accurately assess an individual's iron status, tracking not just their current level, but also their intake patterns that may impact that status over time. This thorough approach contrasts with monitoring methods like blood glucose levels, physical examinations, or hematocrit levels, which do not provide a complete picture of iron status and could be influenced by other factors unrelated to iron deficiency. Thus, employing both dietary assessments and lab studies is the most effective method to monitor and evaluate iron levels.