Serum ferritin levels closely correlate with total body iron stores. The range of normal in most laboratories is 30 to 300 ng/mL (67.4 to 674.1 pmol/L), and the mean is 88 ng/mL (197.7 pmol/L) in men and 49 ng/mL (110.1 pmol/L) in women. Low levels (< 12 ng/mL (27 pmol/L)) are specific for iron deficiency.

However, ferritin levels are unreliable in:

• Acute or chronic inflammation.
• CKD.
• Heart failure.
• Liver disease.
• Excessive alcohol intake.
• Malignancy.
• Hyperthyroidism.

Share on Pinterest Low ferritin levels can cause headaches and pale skin. A result of low ferritin is strong evidence of an iron deficiency. The body requires iron to make hemoglobin, which is a protein in red blood cells that transfers oxygen from the lungs around the body.

The range of normal ferritin in most laboratories is 30 ng/mL to 300 ng/mL, and the mean is 49 ng/mL in women. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey describes iron deficiency in women as a low concentration of ferritin (<12 ng/mL).

A ferritin test helps your doctor understand how much iron your body stores. If a ferritin test reveals that your blood ferritin level is lower than normal, it indicates your body’s iron stores are low and you have iron deficiency. As a result, you could be anemic.

Therefore, blood ferritin is used as a diagnostic test for iron-deficiency anemia [5]. Ferritin is normally high at birth. Ferritin levels rise during the first 2 months of age and then fall until the end of the first year of life and later infancy. Around 1 year of age, ferritin levels begin to rise again [12].

Dietary changes can include:

1. avoiding supplements that contain iron.
2. avoiding supplements that contain vitamin C, as this vitamin increases iron absorption.
3. reducing iron-rich and iron-fortified foods.
4. avoiding uncooked fish and shellfish.
5. limiting alcohol intake, as this can damage the liver.

Ferritin molecules help sequester this free iron, preventing its participation in this reaction and subsequent free radical-mediated cellular damage. Beyond this protective role in redox biology and iron homeostasis, free serum ferritin is increased in the setting of ongoing inflammation.

significant (p<0.001) decreases in serum folic acid, vitamin B12 levels whereas increased concentration of ferritin in all 30 study subject. Negative and significant correlations were observed between ferritin and folic acid, and vitamin B12 in β-thalassemia major group.

The normal range for ferritin in your blood serum is: 20 to 250 ng/mL for adult males. 10 to 120 ng/mL for adult females, 18 to 39 years. 12 to 263 ng/mL for females, 40 years and older.

Folic acid supplements are generally safe and provide a convenient way to maintain adequate folate levels. That said, excess folic acid supplement intake may cause several side effects, including slower brain development in children and accelerated mental decline in older adults.

Supplementation with oral iron for 12 wk produced an increase in ferritin levels in all the groups, but significant increases were seen only in women given 120 and 240 mg of ferrous sulphate with or without folic acid.

Ferritin isn’t the same thing as iron in your body. Instead, ferritin is a protein that stores iron, releasing it when your body needs it. Ferritin usually lives in your body’s cells, with very little actually circulating in your blood.

Many laboratories consider serum ferritin levels greater than 200 ng/mL in women and greater than 300 ng/mL in men to be abnormal. However, a large percentage of the general population has a serum ferritin level between 200 and 1,000 ng/mL.

A serum ferritin concentration lower than 30 mcg/L suggests iron deficiency, and a value lower than 10 mcg/L suggests IDA [15].

[33, 42, 43] In addition to breast cancer, the serum ferritin level has also been found to be elevated in patients with lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma, and the level was closely associated with the prognosis.

If your ferritin levels are too low, you may feel fatigued and run down. Fatigue can often be linked to inadequate iron in the blood. And since ferritin is a marker of long-term iron intake, it’s perfect for determining whether that worn-down feeling can be linked to your diet.

In contrast, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress may act as a link between elevated serum-ferritin levels, which may contribute to cellular or tissue damage [10]. A previous study revealed that increased levels of serum-ferritin were associated with major depression in patients receiving chronic hemodialysis.

The patients affected by iron deficiency anemia show many mood and behavioral signs and symptoms similar to the depressed individuals. Of note, many of these signs and symptoms occur in the initial stage of iron deficiency (dropped serum ferritin level) before the establishment of frank anemia (Beard et al., 1993).

You’re iron deficient. So when you have low levels of iron, less oxygen gets to your cells, keeping them from functioning properly and often leading to fatigue, weakness, and even anxiety and depression.

Tips to Get Enough Iron

1. Eat lean red meat: This is the best source of easily absorbed heme iron.
2. Eat chicken and fish: These are also good sources of heme iron.
3. Consume vitamin C-rich foods: Eat vitamin C-rich foods during meals to increase the absorption of non-heme iron.

Even in adults the first symptoms of iron deficiency are often neurologic, as those affected will frequently complain of fatigue, brain fog, and also restless legs causing insomnia.

Those with iron deficiency or anemia can experience a host of psychological symptoms, including anxiety, irritability, depression, and a decrease in cognitive abilities (including poor concentration).

Our study showed a positive correlation between ferritin and CRP, signifying an underlying low grade inflammation, leading to subsequent iron deficiency, most probably, because of inflammation mediated iron sequestration in the reticuloendothelial system.

Low ferritin levels can indicate that you have iron-deficiency anaemia. Common symptoms of this include tiredness, dizziness, headaches, and weakness. While high levels can indicate that you’re storing too much iron. Common symptoms of this include stomach pain, heart palpitations, and joint pain.