Table 3.1.a. Serum ferritin: Total population

Geometric mean and selected percentiles of serum concentrations (in ng/mL) for the total U.S. population aged 1 year and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.

Geometric mean
(95% conf. interval)

Selected percentiles (95% conf. interval)

Sample
size

5th

50th

95th

Males and Females

Total, 1 year and older

60.2

(58.3-62.1)

9.00

(9.00-10.0)

62.0

(59.0-64.0)

343

(329-359)

16656

1–5 years

21.5

(20.3-22.9)

6.00

(3.00-8.00)

21.0

(20.0-23.0)

62.0

(53.0-77.0)

1523

6–11 years

29.8

(28.1-31.5)

11.0

(11.0-13.0)

30.0

(28.0-31.0)

74.0

(67.0-83.0)

1909

12–19 years

32.8

(31.4-34.3)

8.00

(6.00-9.00)

34.0

(32.0-35.0)

115

(103-125)

4340

20–39 years

62.2

(58.9-65.6)

8.00

(7.00-10.0)

71.0

(66.0-76.0)

301

(272-321)

3186

40–59 years

80.8

(76.7-85.0)

9.00

(7.00-11.0)

93.0

(88.0-96.0)

404

(379-433)

2680

60 years and older

101

(95.5-107)

19.0

(16.0-22.0)

105

(97.0-112)

481

(434-518)

3018

Males

Total, 1 year and older

93.0

(89.3-96.8)

16.0

(15.0-17.0)

101

(97.0-107)

416

(391-439)

8142

1–5 years

20.2

(18.7-21.7)

3.00

(3.00-6.00)

20.0

(19.0-22.0)

62.0

(50.0-79.0)

805

6–11 years

29.7

(27.3-32.3)

11.0

(9.00-12.0)

31.0

(29.0-32.0)

73.0

(64.0-83.0)

972

12–19 years

44.3

(41.6-47.1)

15.0

(13.0-17.0)

42.0

(40.0-45.0)

142

(125-154)

2172

20–39 years

129

(122-137)

41.0

(34.0-46.0)

134

(125-142)

382

(344-406)

1356

40–59 years

145

(135-157)

32.0

(24.0-42.0)

150

(138-168)

500

(434-574)

1340

60 years and older

127

(118-136)

21.0

(18.0-24.0)

134

(125-147)

552

(493-623)

1497

Females

Total, 1 year and older

39.7

(38.1-41.4)

6.00

(6.00-8.00)

39.0

(37.0-41.0)

213

(198-228)

8514

1–5 years

23.2

(21.8-24.8)

7.00

(5.00-9.00)

23.0

(22.0-25.0)

69.0

(52.0-88.0)

718

6–11 years

29.9

(28.2-31.7)

12.0

(10.0-14.0)

30.0

(27.0-31.0)

76.0

(67.0-83.0)

937

12–19 years

24.0

(22.7-25.3)

5.00

(3.00-7.00)

26.0

(24.0-27.0)

76.0

(70.0-85.0)

2168

20–39 years

30.4

(28.6-32.4)

< LOD

32.0

(30.0-35.0)

126

(110-146)

1830

40–59 years

45.6

(42.8-48.6)

4.00

(3.00-6.00)

53.0

(46.0-57.0)

228

(201-243)

1340

60 years and older

84.9

(79.7-90.4)

15.0

(14.0-21.0)

86.0

(80.0-93.0)

391

(349-445)

1521

< LOD means less than the limit of detection, which may vary for some compounds by year. See Appendix D for LOD.

Table 3.1.b. Serum ferritin: Mexican Americans

Geometric mean and selected percentiles of serum concentrations (in ng/mL) for Mexican Americans in the U.S. population aged 1 year and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.

Geometric mean
(95% conf. interval)

Selected percentiles (95% conf. interval)

Sample
size

5th

50th

95th

Males and Females

Total, 1 year and older

46.6

(43.4-50.1)

7.00

(6.00-8.00)

44.0

(40.0-47.0)

298

(265-334)

4946

1–5 years

19.0

(18.2-19.9)

5.00

(3.00-7.00)

19.0

(18.0-20.0)

48.0

(45.0-54.0)

515

6–11 years

27.7

(26.1-29.5)

12.0

(10.0-13.0)

27.0

(25.0-28.0)

70.0

(59.0-81.0)

651

12–19 years

29.9

(28.1-31.8)

6.00

(3.00-7.00)

32.0

(29.0-34.0)

114

(101-122)

1639

20–39 years

56.8

(51.9-62.2)

6.00

(3.00-8.00)

67.0

(60.0-74.0)

300

(256-336)

867

40–59 years

76.0

(67.5-85.6)

< LOD

97.0

(81.0-111)

463

(409-589)

634

60 years and older

100

(91.8-110)

18.0

(12.0-24.0)

102

(90.0-120)

433

(342-568)

640

Males

Total, 1 year and older

77.1

(72.9-81.6)

14.0

(13.0-16.0)

85.0

(77.0-91.0)

373

(317-408)

2422

1–5 years

19.0

(18.0-20.0)

5.00

(3.00-7.00)

19.0

(18.0-21.0)

48.0

(42.0-59.0)

268

6–11 years

28.4

(26.3-30.7)

12.0

(11.0-14.0)

27.0

(25.0-29.0)

70.0

(56.0-88.0)

337

12–19 years

43.2

(40.5-46.2)

14.0

(10.0-16.0)

42.0

(40.0-46.0)

131

(121-143)

812

20–39 years

121

(112-131)

39.0

(31.0-51.0)

122

(111-134)

349

(298-395)

383

40–59 years

160

(142-180)

44.0

(33.0-53.0)

159

(142-177)

646

(457-959)

301

60 years and older

122

(105-143)

19.0

(13.0-28.0)

136

(102-162)

569

(364-831)

321

Females

Total, 1 year and older

26.9

(24.2-30.0)

< LOD

27.0

(24.0-29.0)

161

(123-201)

2524

1–5 years

19.1

(17.6-20.8)

5.00

(3.00-8.00)

20.0

(17.0-20.0)

47.0

(44.0-56.0)

247

6–11 years

27.0

(24.7-29.6)

12.0

(8.00-14.0)

27.0

(24.0-29.0)

68.0

(59.0-84.0)

314

12–19 years

20.0

(18.3-21.9)

< LOD

22.0

(19.0-24.0)

69.0

(59.0-77.0)

827

20–39 years

23.3

(20.6-26.3)

< LOD

24.0

(22.0-26.0)

98.0

(78.0-144)

484

40–59 years

35.2

(29.2-42.4)

< LOD

38.0

(32.0-44.0)

293

(195-385)

333

60 years and older

84.6

(76.6-93.4)

17.0

(11.0-24.0)

87.0

(76.0-100)

324

(237-375)

319

< LOD means less than the limit of detection, which may vary for some compounds by year. See Appendix D for LOD.

Table 3.1.c. Serum ferritin: Non-Hispanic blacks

Geometric mean and selected percentiles of serum concentrations (in ng/mL) for non-Hispanic blacks in the U.S. population aged 1 year and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.

Geometric mean
(95% conf. interval)

Selected percentiles (95% conf. interval)

Sample
size

5th

50th

95th

Males and Females

Total, 1 year and older

59.2

(55.6-62.9)

8.00

(6.00-10.0)

58.0

(54.0-62.0)

381

(342-423)

3898

1–5 years

25.9

(23.9-28.1)

8.00

(5.00-10.0)

25.0

(24.0-28.0)

73.0

(62.0-98.0)

415

6–11 years

36.8

(34.7-39.0)

15.0

(13.0-17.0)

36.0

(34.0-38.0)

86.0

(78.0-91.0)

604

12–19 years

32.9

(31.3-34.6)

7.00

(6.00-10.0)

33.0

(31.0-36.0)

122

(110-132)

1258

20–39 years

54.4

(48.0-61.6)

< LOD

63.0

(56.0-73.0)

313

(266-368)

592

40–59 years

96.9

(86.7-108)

7.00

(6.00-12.0)

111

(100-129)

482

(425-642)

543

60 years and older

133

(118-150)

22.0

(18.0-31.0)

141

(125-162)

613

(509-724)

486

Males

Total, 1 year and older

92.8

(87.2-98.8)

17.0

(16.0-19.0)

98.0

(90.0-108)

452

(420-494)

1917

1–5 years

24.6

(21.8-27.7)

7.00†

(3.00-10.0)

24.0

(21.0-27.0)

69.0†

(57.0-122)

215

6–11 years

36.1

(33.6-38.7)

16.0

(13.0-18.0)

34.0

(31.0-38.0)

79.0

(75.0-90.0)

304

12–19 years

44.1

(42.1-46.1)

14.0

(12.0-16.0)

43.0

(40.0-46.0)

146

(128-171)

642

20–39 years

137

(126-150)

35.0

(24.0-52.0)

150

(137-161)

381

(325-450)

249

40–59 years

176

(156-199)

42.0

(30.0-53.0)

178

(157-206)

642

(494-984)

275

60 years and older

159

(135-186)

26.0

(18.0-34.0)

173

(132-204)

710

(521-851)

232

Females

Total, 1 year and older

40.1

(36.5-44.2)

6.00

(3.00-7.00)

40.0

(37.0-42.0)

267

(246-297)

1981

1–5 years

27.5

(25.0-30.2)

10.0†

(7.00-12.0)

26.0

(24.0-30.0)

73.0†

(56.0-96.0)

200

6–11 years

37.6

(34.8-40.6)

16.0

(12.0-17.0)

37.0

(33.0-41.0)

88.0

(73.0-107)

300

12–19 years

24.5

(22.3-26.8)

3.00

(3.00-6.00)

24.0

(22.0-29.0)

91.0

(78.0-104)

616

20–39 years

26.6

(22.0-32.2)

< LOD

31.0

(24.0-34.0)

142

(102-232)

343

40–59 years

57.4

(50.1-65.8)

6.00

(3.00-6.00)

61.0

(52.0-75.0)

343

(255-481)

268

60 years and older

118

(101-138)

21.0

(8.00-30.0)

131

(107-151)

534

(396-613)

254

< LOD means less than the limit of detection, which may vary for some compounds by year. See Appendix D for LOD.

† Estimate is subject to greater uncertainty due to small cell size.

Table 3.1.d. Serum ferritin: Non-Hispanic whites

Geometric mean and selected percentiles of serum concentrations (in ng/mL) for non-Hispanic whites in the U.S. population aged 1 year and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.

Geometric mean
(95% conf. interval)

Selected percentiles (95% conf. interval)

Sample
size

5th

50th

95th

Males and Females

Total, 1 year and older

63.0

(60.4-65.6)

11.0

(10.0-11.0)

65.0

(63.0-69.0)

343

(327-357)

6360

1–5 years

21.3

(19.2-23.6)

5.00

(3.00-8.00)

21.0

(19.0-23.0)

61.0

(46.0-80.0)

420

6–11 years

28.4

(26.0-31.1)

10.0

(9.00-12.0)

30.0

(27.0-32.0)

69.0

(59.0-83.0)

496

12–19 years

32.9

(31.0-34.8)

8.00

(7.00-11.0)

34.0

(31.0-36.0)

107

(95.0-122)

1075

20–39 years

64.3

(59.6-69.5)

9.00

(7.00-12.0)

74.0

(66.0-81.0)

293

(261-328)

1382

40–59 years

79.8

(75.7-84.1)

10.0

(9.00-12.0)

91.0

(85.0-96.0)

386

(349-406)

1280

60 years and older

97.9

(92.2-104)

17.0

(15.0-21.0)

102

(94.0-110)

448

(393-503)

1707

Males

Total, 1 year and older

96.0

(91.4-101)

16.0

(14.0-18.0)

107

(99.0-115)

414

(391-435)

3127

1–5 years

19.4

(17.3-21.8)

< LOD

19.0

(17.0-21.0)

61.0

(42.0-79.0)

226

6–11 years

28.4

(24.8-32.6)

11.0

(9.00-14.0)

29.0

(27.0-33.0)

68.0

(50.0-97.0)

261

12–19 years

42.9

(39.7-46.4)

14.0

(10.0-17.0)

43.0

(39.0-46.0)

127

(111-143)

536

20–39 years

131

(121-141)

43.0

(32.0-49.0)

135

(124-144)

382

(331-416)

577

40–59 years

139

(127-153)

31.0

(18.0-39.0)

144

(132-168)

453

(409-517)

668

60 years and older

125

(116-135)

20.0

(18.0-25.0)

135

(122-148)

531

(471-601)

859

Females

Total, 1 year and older

41.7

(39.5-44.0)

8.00

(6.00-9.00)

41.0

(39.0-44.0)

205

(193-227)

3233

1–5 years

23.6

(20.9-26.8)

8.00†

(5.00-11.0)

24.0

(20.0-26.0)

59.0†

(42.0-98.0)

194

6–11 years

28.4

(25.9-31.2)

10.0

(9.00-14.0)

28.0

(25.0-31.0)

73.0

(56.0-83.0)

235

12–19 years

24.8

(23.0-26.6)

7.00

(3.00-8.00)

26.0

(25.0-28.0)

71.0

(61.0-85.0)

539

20–39 years

32.0

(29.1-35.2)

5.00

(3.00-8.00)

34.0

(29.0-40.0)

127

(108-149)

805

40–59 years

45.2

(41.8-48.8)

6.00

(3.00-8.00)

51.0

(45.0-57.0)

206

(181-235)

612

60 years and older

80.7

(75.7-86.1)

16.0

(13.0-22.0)

83.0

(77.0-89.0)

353

(296-391)

848

< LOD means less than the limit of detection, which may vary for some compounds by year. See Appendix D for LOD.

† Estimate is subject to greater uncertainty due to small cell size.