TF and anemia (phenotype): Besides, AI can mask iron deficiency because, in the presence of both these conditions, the commonly used serum iron-status indicators (namely iron, transferrin, transferrin saturation and ferritin) can be difficult to interpret.3 The discovery of hepcidin, the main regulator of iron homeostasis, significantly improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of AI and the measurement of serum hepcidin level, which is down-regulated in case of iron deficiency and up-regulated in presence of inflammation, soon could become a useful tool in the diagnostic work-up of anemia in the elderly.5