•Plasma ferritin levels are lower in women due to
menstrual losses of iron
•Levels >300 ug/l can be due to chronic inflammation,
infection, injury, liver disease,
iron excess (diet or supplements) or haemochromatosis
•Iron supplements were taken by <6% of men
and <9% of women
•In Wales the upper 2.5 percentiles were: men 3,338
ug/l, women 620 ug/l