Eisenga MF, et al. - In a cohort of community-dwelling patients, researchers explored the connections between iron deficiency, one of the most common nutritional disorders worldwide, and higher erythropoietin (EPO) levels with mortality and if fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) has a mediating role. Participants in the study were 6,544 community-dwelling patients (age 53 ± 12 years). In the general population, functional iron deficiency and higher EPO levels were each linked to a higher risk of death. The results indicate that the connection between functional iron deficiency and increased levels of the EPO and death could involve FGF23. It is warranted to investigate approaches to correct iron deficiency and reduce FGF23 levels.