What lab values are decreased in iron deficiency anemia?

In iron deficiency anemia, several key lab values are indeed decreased, which accurately reflects the physiological changes associated with this condition. Hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (Hct) are essential components in assessing anemia because they indicate the concentration of red blood cells and the volume of red blood cells in the blood, respectively. When iron is deficient, the body is unable to produce sufficient hemoglobin, leading to lower levels of both Hgb and Hct.

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) measures the average size of red blood cells. In iron deficiency anemia, MCV is typically decreased because the body produces smaller, microcytic red blood cells when iron is not available for hemoglobin synthesis.

Serum iron (Serum Fe) directly reflects the amount of circulating iron in the body, which decreases when iron stores are exhausted. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) also tend to decrease in iron deficiency anemia, as both values depend on adequate hemoglobin content within red blood cells.

Transferrin, a protein that transports iron in the blood, typically increases in response to low iron, but the saturation percentage (the ratio of serum iron to transferrin)