Ferritin
Stomach and gut healthFerritin is a protein that stores iron and releases it when needed.
Ferritin levels in the blood reflect the body's iron storage.
Reference range
Source: Ahead Health benchmark
Reference ranges may vary between labs and assays. Always interpret results with your healthcare provider. · LOINC code: 2276-4
Why this matters
Ferritin provides an early signal of whether your iron reserves are too low or too high before symptoms appear.
Low ferritin usually points to iron deficiency, which can progress to anemia and cause fatigue, weakness, and reduced exercise tolerance.
High ferritin can indicate inflammation, liver problems, or iron overload, which may damage organs over time. Diet (iron-rich foods, vitamin C intake), blood loss (menstruation, GI bleeding), and supplements strongly influence ferritin.
Monitoring helps detect imbalances early so you can adjust nutrition, treat underlying causes, and prevent complications.
How this connects to other biomarkers
- Low Ferritin with low Transferrin Saturation and small red blood cells (low MCV, low Hemoglobin) is the classic pattern of iron-deficiency anemia.
- High Ferritin with elevated Transferrin Saturation points to iron overload; persistent saturation > 45% in men or > 50% in women warrants HFE gene testing for hereditary hemochromatosis (inherited iron overload disease) and Liver Iron Content (LIC) assessment.
- High Ferritin with normal Transferrin Saturation often reflects ongoing inflammation rather than true iron stores — check hs-CRP to clarify.
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