[11], [12], [14], [15]. Conversely, iron deficiency, hypoxia and enhanced erythropoiesis decrease hepcidin levels, [12], [14], [16] leading to an increase in iron levels. In view of its central role in iron homeostasis serum hepcidin could be a useful marker to guide iron supplementation interventions, even in areas with high infection exposure [17]–[19], although it has yet to be evaluated for this purpose [20]. This evidence concerns the gene HAMP and infection.