How to determine transferrin in blood?

Since transferrin is normally found in the blood, the transferrin value can be determined by a normal laboratory control of the blood. This is done by taking a blood sample by piercing a vein with a needle and then filling a tube with about five milliliters of blood.This can then be sent to the laboratory, where various values are determined. In most cases it makes sense to determine other values, which play a role in iron metabolism, in addition to transferrin.

On the one hand, one should determine the amount of iron in the serum. In this way one can draw conclusions about the transferrin saturation. The determination of the hemoglobin value, the erythrocyte count and the ferritin value can also be useful. Many clinical pictures result from the overall picture of these blood values.

Hemoglobin
Ferritin

Evaluation of transferrin values

The evaluation of the determination of transferrin is based on the standard values. Thus, a transferrin value above 400 mg/dl is an increased transferrin value. From a value below 200 mg/dl the transferrin is reduced.

In connection with transferrin saturation (which should be between 20 and 50%), there may be indications of iron deficiency diseases or iron storage diseases with excessive iron intake. There are also two other forms of transferrin. Beta-2-transferrin can, for example, be determined in cerebrospinal fluid and indicates traces of blood, for example from a fracture of the base of the skull.

Another version of transferrin (carbohydrate-deficient transferrin) may be an indication of chronic alcoholism. There are numerous causes for a lowered transferrin level. Depending on the underlying disease, a more extensive diagnostic procedure should be performed if there is a transferrin deficiency.

In most cases, the concentration of transferrin in the blood is related to iron, so the entire iron metabolism pathway should be examined. There are many harmless causes for transferrin deficiency. As an anti-acute phase protein, transferrin decreases in inflammation.

A decreased transferrin can therefore be caused by colds, infections or the flu. Autoimmune diseases are also associated with inflammation in the body, so they can lower the transferrin level. If many erythrocytes (red blood cells) are destroyed, iron is released into the blood.

This iron is bound by transferrin, which is why a high transferrin saturation is usually noticeable. In addition, the body reduces the production of transferrin so that even more iron is not absorbed. Causes of low transferrin levels that require clarification are diseases of the liver or iron storage diseases.

These values initially drive up the ferritin level and subsequently lead to a lower transferrin level. A release of ferritin is caused, for example, by damage to liver cells. The ferritin is stored in the liver cells and escapes into the blood in case of damage.

This is followed by a reactive lowering of the transferrin. There are many reasons why the transferrin value can increase. In most cases, a pronounced iron deficiency is the origin of the change.

The reason for this is usually a too low iron intake. In response to this, the body increases the production of transferrin so that more iron can be absorbed from the intestines and bound in the blood. Alternatively, an increased iron requirement or blood loss and thus also the loss of iron are the reasons for the reactively increased production of Transferrin.

In pregnant women, endurance athletes and children or adolescents, iron deficiency may also be due to an increased requirement. During pregnancy, a threefold increased concentration of iron is often required, while during the breastfeeding period, only twice as much iron is needed. Endurance athletes train their bodies to transport oxygen particularly effectively.

As a lot of iron is needed for this, the iron requirement also increases for these athletes with increasing training. Children and adolescents usually do not have an exceptionally high need for iron, but during periods of strong growth, they may suddenly need a particularly large amount of iron for a short time. The loss of iron is usually accompanied by blood loss.

Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract is often the cause, but other chronic bleeding or sudden heavy blood loss in accidents or major operations can also trigger iron loss. The body tries to compensate for this with increased transferrin levels. Generally, women are more often affected by high levels of transferrin.

This is due to the phyiological (natural) regular menstrual bleeding, during which not negligible amounts of blood and iron are also lost. Endurance athletes train their bodies to transport oxygen particularly effectively. As a lot of iron is needed for this, the iron requirement also increases with increasing training for these athletes.Children and adolescents usually do not have an exceptionally high need for iron, but during periods of strong growth, they may suddenly need a particularly large amount of iron for a short time.

The loss of iron is usually accompanied by blood loss. Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract is often the cause, but other chronic bleeding or sudden heavy blood loss in accidents or major operations can also trigger iron loss. The body tries to compensate for this with increased transferrin levels.

Generally, women are more often affected by high levels of transferrin. This is due to the phyiological (natural) regular menstrual bleeding, during which not negligible amounts of blood and iron are also lost. Changes in transferrin levels should generally have therapeutic consequences.

Transferrin usually only changes when there has been an imbalance in iron metabolism for a long time. Thus, changed transferrin values are an indication of an iron problem that the body cannot regulate on its own. Increased transferrin values are assumed to indicate a lack of iron, so the intake of iron is essential for the therapy of decreased transferrin.

This can often be achieved simply by increasing the iron intake with food, by eating more food such as legumes, meat, oatmeal and nuts. If this is not sufficient, iron tablets can be given over several months. It is often particularly helpful to additionally control the vitamin balance, as some vitamins play an important role in iron absorption.

A lowered transferrin value, on the other hand, is often a sign that the body is overloaded with iron. In this case, a detailed diagnosis should first be made, as the causes are not always harmless. Many of the underlying diseases, such as hemochromatosis, are easily treatable in the early stages.

If they are discovered too late, however, permanent organ damage can occur. Often it is particularly helpful to additionally control the vitamin balance, as some vitamins play an important role in iron absorption. A lowered transferrin value, on the other hand, is often a sign that the body is overloaded with iron.

In this case, a detailed diagnosis should first be made, as the causes are not always harmless. Many of the underlying diseases, such as hemochromatosis, are easily treatable in the early stages. If they are discovered too late, however, permanent organ damage can occur.