One quarter of females (n = 5) met the criteria for stage 1 iron deficiency (ferritin <35 μg·L−1, Hb > 115 g·L−1, transferrin saturation > 16% (44), and one female was identified with Stage 2 iron-deficient non-anaemia (ferritin <20 μg·L−1, Hb > 115 g·L−1, transferrin saturation <16%). Here, TF is linked to anemia (phenotype).