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What is Ferritin in Blood Test? What is High and Low Ferritin Level? Causes & Treatment?

Updated: Jul 18, 2024

  • Ferritin in a blood test is a test that measures how much iron is stored in your body.

  • Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside cells. Iron is necessary for the production of red blood cells and the distribution of oxygen. Iron also has a role in healthy muscle, bone marrow and organ function. Ferritin is needed to dissolve iron, store it, and release it when necessary.

  • Iron must be in the body at a certain rate. Having too much or too little iron in the body can cause serious health problems if left untreated.

  • Ferritin test gives insight into many diseases in the body.

Ferritin in a blood test is a test that measures how much iron is stored in your body. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside cells. Iron is necessary for the production of red blood cells and the distribution of oxygen. Iron also has a role in healthy muscle, bone marrow and organ function. Ferritin is needed to dissolve iron, store it, and release it when necessary. Iron must be in the body at a certain rate. Having too much or too little iron in the body can cause serious health problems if left untreated. Ferritin test gives insight into many diseases in the body. The normal ferritin value may vary depending on factors such as age and gender. Normal ferritin values ​​are considered to be 10-150 ng/mL in women and 12-300 ng/mL in men. The reason for the low rate in women is regular menstrual bleeding every month. High ferritin in a blood test is a value above 150 ng/ml for women and 300 ng/ml for men. It is a value above the upper reference value for children. If the ferritin value is high, it means that iron stores in the body are increased due to various health problems. Low ferritin in a blood test is a ferritin value below 10 ng/ml for women and 12 ng/ml for men. If the ferritin value is low, it means that the iron stores in the body are low. Lack of iron in the body negatively affects red blood cell production, causing iron deficiency anemia.
What is Ferritin in Blood Test? What is High and Low Ferritin Level? Causes & Treatment?

What is A Normal Ferritin Level in Blood Test ?

  • The normal ferritin value may vary depending on factors such as age and gender. Normal ferritin values ​​are considered to be 10-150 ng/mL in women and 12-300 ng/mL in men. The reason for the low rate in women is regular menstrual bleeding every month.

  • Normal values ​​for children are as follows:

Newborn: 25-200 ng/mL

≤1 month: 200-600 ng/mL

2-5 months: 50-200 ng/mL

6 months-15 years: 7-142 ng/mL


What is High Ferritin Level in Blood Test?

  • High ferritin in a blood test is a value above 150 ng/ml for women and 300 ng/ml for men. It is a value above the upper reference value for children.

  • If the ferritin value is high, it means that iron stores in the body are increased due to various health problems.


What Causes High Ferritin Level in Blood Test?

  • Liver disease

  • Alcohol use disorder

  • Hemochromatosis

  • Hyperthyroidism

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

  • Leukemia

  • Infection

  • Inflammation

  • Diabetes

  • Hodgkin's lymphoma

  • Repeated blood transfusions

  • Taking too many iron supplements

In case of high ferritin value, iron level may be high or low. The reason for this difference is that the ferritin level can increase independently of the iron level in cases of inflammation in the body.


High Ferritin Symptoms

  • Weakness and fatigue

  • Joint pain

  • Loss of sexual desire

  • Stomach ache

  • Change in skin color

  • Chest pain

  • Weight loss


How to Treat High Ferritin Level?

Treatment of high ferritin depends on the underlying cause. If there is no disease that causes high ferritin levels, the physician can reduce the iron level in the body with medication. In some cases, simply changing eating habits may be enough to reduce ferritin levels. In addition, blood donation is another method that reduces the iron stored in the body.


What is Low Ferritin Level in Blood Test?

  • Low ferritin in a blood test is a ferritin value below 10 ng/ml for women and 12 ng/ml for men. It is a value above the upper reference value for children.

  • If the ferritin value is low, it means that the iron stores in the body are low. Lack of iron in the body negatively affects red blood cell production, causing iron deficiency anemia.


What Causes Low Ferritin Level in Blood Test?

  • Low consumption of iron-containing foods

  • Low gastrointestinal absorption

  • Crohn's disease

  • Celiac disease

  • Ulcerative colitis

  • Hemorrhoids

  • Colon cancer and peptic ulcer

  • Blood loss


Low Ferritin Symptoms

  • Shortness of breath

  • Weakness or fatigue

  • Dizziness

  • Arrhythmia

  • Concentration and focus problems

  • Hair loss

  • Joint and muscle pains

  • Numbness feeling in hands and feet

  • Desire to eat soil and lime

  • Ringing in ears


How to Treat Low Ferritin Level?

Treatment for low ferritin depends on the underlying causes. If low ferritin level is not due to any disease, some medications and iron supplements can be given with the approval of the physician. In some cases, it may be necessary to make changes to the diet in addition to iron supplements. Cigarettes and alcohol should not be consumed. In some cases, a blood transfusion may be required.

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