| Iron profile | Male (n = 20) | Female (n = 16) | Total (n = 36) | p value | |
| Serum iron (μg/dl) | Decreased (<59) | 16 (80.0%) | 11 (68.7%) | 27 (75.0%) | 0.582 (NS) |
| Normal (59 to 158) | 4 (20.0%) | 5 (31.2%) | 9 (25.0%) | ||
| Saturation (%) | Decreased (<16) | 10 (50.0%) | 8 (50.0%) | 18 (50.0%) | 1.000 (NS) |
| Normal (16 to 50) | 10 (50.0%) | 8 (50.0%) | 18 (50.0%) | ||
| TIBC (μg/dl) | Decreased (<259) | 16 (80.0%) | 15 (93.7%) | 31 (86.1%) | 0.498 (NS) |
| Normal (259 to 388) | 4 (20.0%) | 1 (6.2%) | 5 (13.8%) | ||