en Clinical Biochemistry Clinical Biochemistry پژوهشي Research <span style="font-size:9pt"><span minion="" pro="" style="font-family:"><b>Introduction</b>: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA₁c) is widely used to assess long-term glycemic control in diabetic patients. However, non-glycemic factors such as iron deficiency anemia (IDA) may alter HbA₁c levels, potentially affecting its accuracy. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of IDA on HbA₁c levels in diabetic patients with controlled fasting plasma glucose.</span></span><br> <span style="font-size:9pt"><span minion="" pro="" style="font-family:"><b>Materials & Methods</b><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">: </span></span></b>An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 diabetic patients aged 18&ndash;60 years, divided equally into IDA and non-IDA groups. IDA diagnosis was based on hemoglobin levels, red blood cell indices, serum ferritin, serum iron, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). HbA₁c was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography; while fasting plasma glucose was determined by the glucose oxidase-peroxidase method.<span lang="FA" dir="RTL" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:9pt"><span minion="" pro="" style="font-family:"><b>Results</b><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">: &nbsp;</span></span></b>Mean HbA₁c levels were 6.1 &plusmn; 0.59% in the IDA group and 6.2 &plusmn; 0.73% in the non-IDA group, with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.6143). Age and gender showed more influence on HbA₁c values than IDA status. No significant correlation was found between HbA₁c and hematological or iron parameters within the IDA group.</span></span><br> <span style="font-size:9pt"><span minion="" pro="" style="font-family:"><b>Conclusion</b><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">: &nbsp;</span></span></b>Iron deficiency anemia does not significantly affect HbA₁c levels in diabetic patients with well-controlled fasting glucose. Therefore, HbA₁c remains a reliable marker for glycemic control in these patients. Clinicians should still interpret HbA₁c cautiously in anemic individuals and consider additional assessments if necessary.</span></span><br> <br> &nbsp; glycated hemoglobin, anemia, iron deficiencies, diabetes mellitus, blood glucose 32 40 http://jbrms.medilam.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-917-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Zoya Khatri khatrizoya2000@gmail.com 10031947532846008038 0009-0004-3754-5001 No Seth GS Medical college and KEM Hospital (Batch 2018), Parel Mumbai, India Anita Chalak anitachalak@kem.edu 10031947532846008039 10031947532846008039 No Department of Biochemistry, Seth GS Medical college and KEM Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India Megha Bangar megha.bangar9@gmail.com 10031947532846008040 10031947532846008040 No Department of Biochemistry, D.Y Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai, India Shalini Maksane shalinidabi24@gmail.com 10031947532846008041 10031947532846008041 Yes MGM Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, India Supriya Khillare supriyakhillare@gmail.com 10031947532846008042 10031947532846008042 No Department of Biochemistry, D Y Patil Medical College and Hospital, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, India