Applying pre-defined, clinically relevant thresholds of blood-borne iron indices characterizing state of iron deficiency, we found low transferrin saturation (<20%) in 39 patients (45%), elevated transferrin (>360 mg/dL) in 11 patients (13%), elevated soluble transferrin receptor (>1.76 mg/L) in 4 patients (5%) and low ferritin (<30 μg/L) in 32 patients (37%). Here, TF is linked to nutritional disorder.