EPO and anemia: Hepcidin synthesis and release themselves are regulated by changes in iron storage, hypoxia and erythropoiesis [33], and elevated levels of the hormone have been described in association with markers of inflammation (e.g. C-reactive protein, interleukin-6), anemia (e.g. hemoglobin and endogenous EPO) and also with iron status (e.g. ferritin) [18, 34, 35].