Ferritin is a protein produced by the liver, responsible for storing iron in the body. For example, the severe ferritin test is done to check for lack or excess iron in the body.
Normally, in healthy individuals, the reference value of serum ferritin is 23 to 336 ng /ml in men and 11 to 306 ng/ml in women, which may vary by laboratory. However, in women, it is normal to have a low level of ferritin during pregnancy due to an increase in the amount of blood and iron passing through the placenta to the baby.
- The test does not require fasting and is done from a blood sample.
- It is usually requested with other laboratory tests such as blood count.
- A high dose of iron and transferrin saturation.
- Which is a protein that is synthesized mainly in the liver and whose function is to transport iron through the body.
Low ferritin usually means that iron levels are low, so the liver does not produce ferritin because there is no iron available to store. The main causes of low ferritin content are:
Symptoms of low ferritin usually include fatigue, weakness, paleness, lack of appetite, hair loss, headaches and dizziness. Your treatment can be done with daily iron intake or diets rich in foods rich in vitamin C and iron, such as meat, beans or orange. Learn about other iron-rich foods.
Symptoms of high ferritin levels may indicate excessive iron buildup, however, in some cases it may also be a symptom of inflammation or infection, associated with:
Symptoms of excess ferritin are usually joint pain, fatigue, shortness of breath or abdominal pain, and treatment of high ferritin depends on the cause, but is usually supplemented with a blood sample to balance iron levels and adoption. diets with few foods rich in iron or vitamin C.
Learn about the symptoms of excess iron in your blood and how treatment is done.