تحديد مستويات عنصر الحديد والفيريتين Ferriten في مصل الدم لدى بعض الحالات المرضية بمدينة يفرن، ليبيا.

This study was conducted in Yafran during November and December 2025 to assess iron levels and iron stores in various pathological conditions in a total of 63 participants of both sexes and different age groups. The results indicated that the mean serum iron level in males aged 1–20 years was 65.1 µg/dL, which is at the lower limit of the normal range (60–175 µg/dL for men), whereas females (normal range: 50–170 µg/dL) showed a lower mean value of 45 µg/dL, below the reference range. Ferritin levels, representing iron stores, were 42.45 µg/dL in males and 57.11 µg/dL in females, both within the normal ranges (24–336 µg/dL for males, 11–307 µg/dL for females). Ferritin is a blood protein responsible for safely storing iron within cells and releasing it when needed for vital processes, including hemoglobin production in red blood cells for oxygen transport and supporting enzymes crucial for cellular respiration and energy metabolism. Despite the low serum iron levels observed in females and in the 21–40-year age group, males in this age range showed a relative decrease in mean ferritin (29.14 µg/dL), approaching the lower limit of normal, while females maintained a mean ferritin level of 34.0 µg/dL within the normal range. In the 41–60-year age group, mean ferritin levels were 35.37 µg/dL in males and 55.75 µg/dL in females, indicating a relative improvement in iron stores, particularly among females. The 61–80-year age group exhibited the highest ferritin levels in both sexes, with 153 µg/dL in males and 149.8 µg/dL in females. Conversely, the 81–100-year age group demonstrated a marked decline in ferritin levels, with 11 µg/dL in males and 9 µg/dL in females, which are below the normal ranges. We recommend further studies on socio-economic factors affecting iron status, including dietary patterns, the relationship between diet and nutritional habits, and the impact of chronic diseases, physiological conditions, or infections—particularly inflammation or parasitic diseases—on iron stores. The influence of hormonal changes on iron levels during pregnancy across different age groups should also be investigated. Additionally, expanding biochemical assessments, such as total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation, studying seasonal variations in iron stores, and evaluating the association between iron deficiency and smoking in men are suggested. This study represents the first report on iron levels and iron stores in Yafran.