If you're tired and your doctor only checked hemoglobin, you might be missing the bigger picture. Ferritin reveals iron deficiency long before anemia appears.
What Is Ferritin?
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in your cells. Think of it as your iron savings account - it shows how much iron you have in reserve.
Why Ferritin Matters
- Drops before hemoglobin does
- Explains fatigue when "standard" labs are normal
- Critical for hair health
- Important for thyroid function
- Affects exercise performance
Optimal vs. Normal Levels
Labs often list 12-150 ng/mL as "normal," but:
- Minimum for symptoms: 30 ng/mL
- Optimal for energy: 50-100 ng/mL
- For hair health: >70 ng/mL
Who Should Check Ferritin?
- Women with heavy periods
- Vegetarians and vegans
- Endurance athletes
- Anyone with fatigue
- Those with hair loss
- Pregnant or trying to conceive
- Anyone with restless leg syndrome
When Ferritin Is Elevated
Very high ferritin can indicate:
- Inflammation (ferritin is an acute phase reactant)
- Iron overload (hemochromatosis)
- Liver disease
- Infection
Always interpret ferritin alongside CRP and other iron markers.
References
- Camaschella, C. (2015). Iron-deficiency anemia. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(19), 1832-1843.
- World Health Organization. (2011). Serum ferritin concentrations for the assessment of iron status and iron deficiency in populations. Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System. Geneva: WHO.
