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Assess your ferritin levels to evaluate body iron stores
Normal range: 20-300 ng/mL
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron. Blood ferritin levels reflect total body iron stores. Low ferritin indicates iron deficiency, while high ferritin may suggest iron overload or inflammation.
Adult Males
20-300 ng/mL
Adult Females
12-150 ng/mL
Children (1-15 years)
15-150 ng/mL
Ferritin can be elevated during inflammation, infection, or liver disease even when iron stores are normal or low. Consider CRP or ESR to assess inflammation.
Ferritin is the primary iron storage protein in the body. Each ferritin molecule can store up to 4,500 iron atoms. Most ferritin is found inside cells, but a small amount circulates in the blood and reflects total body iron stores.
Ferritin is the most sensitive indicator of early iron deficiency—it decreases before serum iron or hemoglobin levels fall. However, because ferritin is also an acute phase reactant, it can be elevated in inflammatory conditions, making interpretation more complex.
| Condition | Ferritin | Serum Iron | TIBC | TSAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Deficiency | ↓ | ↓ | ↑ | ↓ |
| Chronic Disease | ↑ or Normal | ↓ | ↓ | ↓ or Normal |
| Hemochromatosis | ↑↑ | ↑ | Normal/↓ | ↑↑ |
| Iron Def + Inflammation | Normal | ↓ | Normal | ↓ |