Based on our criteria for iron deficiency (ferritin < 20 μg/L, haemoglobin 115–165 g/L, soluble transferrin receptor 0.9–2.30 mg/L, A1GP 0.51–1.17 g/L), at follow-up six (75%) iron deficient participants on 60 mg iron became iron sufficient and one remained iron deficient (13%). Here, TFRC is linked to nutritional disorder.