What Is Ferritin in a Blood Test?
Ferritin is the protein that stores iron inside your cells. It is the best single marker of your body's total iron stores.
Normal Ranges
- Men: 20–500 ng/mL
- Women: 20–200 ng/mL
- Optimal functional range: 50–150 ng/mL
- Below 20 = iron deficiency (even before anemia)
- Below 12 = depleted iron stores
Low Ferritin Causes
- Inadequate dietary iron — vegetarian/vegan diets
- Chronic blood loss — heavy menstruation, GI bleeding
- Malabsorption — celiac disease, gastric bypass
- Increased demand — pregnancy, growth
- Endurance exercise
High Ferritin Causes
- Inflammation — ferritin is an acute-phase reactant
- Hemochromatosis — genetic iron overload
- Liver disease
- Alcohol use
- Metabolic syndrome
- Blood transfusions
Important Caveat
- Ferritin rises with inflammation even when iron stores are low
- Check CRP and transferrin saturation if inflammation is suspected
Source: NLM MedlinePlus, American Association for Clinical Chemistry.
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