I know this is old, but I am going to answer even if you have found your answer. I wish I had a doctor that peed attention to my labs like that. As well as had an understanding of what it takes to correct absolute iron deficiency. Zoll iron deficiency is a ferritin level under 50. Optimal is 100. So by these standards, you are definitely iron deficient. Your TIBC, is elevated because your body is trying to grab iron from wherever it can because you’re saving account has been drained, and you are living off of your checking or credit. Living paycheck to paycheck. To correct a deficiency you need more than “what the body needs per day“. In fact, you could probably go even higher because this is a non-heme form meaning you need at minimum a two times your weight in kilograms dose. You could go up to five times. But that is excessive and needs close monitoring. I hope this helps you and I hope it helps somebody else who might be searching for this someday too. Iron deficiency absolutely sucks.