Enhanced erythropoiesis and iron metabolism

1. A method for treating anemia in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a heterocyclic carboxamide compound that stabilizes the alpha subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIFα), thereby increasing the percent transferrin saturation in the subject, wherein the subject is a subject having a percent transferrin saturation level below 20% prior to said administering.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heterocyclic carboxamide compound is a heterocyclic carbonyl glycine compound.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject further has a serum ferritin level above 200 ng/ml, above 300 ng/ml, or above 400 ng/ml.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject further has a serum ferritin level below 200 ng/ml, below 150 ng/ml, below 100 ng/ml, or below 50 ng/ml.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject further has a transferrin saturation level below 16%, below 15%, or below 10%.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method increases the transferrin saturation level in the subject to a level above 20%, above 30%, above 40%, or above 50%.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treating anemia is achieved without administering iron to the subject.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anemia is anemia of chronic disease.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a subject having a chronic disease selected from the group consisting of an inflammation, an infection, an immunodeficiency disorder, and a neoplastic disorder.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a subject having iron deficiency.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the iron deficiency is functional iron deficiency.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heterocyclic carboxamide compound inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase enzyme activity.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heterocyclic carboxamide compound is a structural mimetic of 2-oxoglutarate.