...), low (group C) (normal range 19–191 ng/ml). Each group was further divided into three subgroups receiving three different iron treatments for 6 months: (1) oral administration of 67.5 mg/day of Fe 3+ as Fe-ferritin (subgroups A1, B1, C1); (2) oral administration of 60 mg/day of Fe 3+ as Fe-condroitin...

... in the controls. The normal differences in serum ferritin with age and sex were absent in the patients. We attribute these changes to iron loss and multiple transfusions received. Tissue iron was well reflected by serum ferritin concentration even during iron treatment, unless the intravenous route was used...