Your body needs ferritin to store iron. Levels of this protein increase as iron levels increase, making it a good indirect measure of your iron levels. You can get your ferritin levels tested with a simple blood test if you think your iron may be too low or too high, both of which can be unhealthy.
Healthy Ferritin Levels
Healthy ferritin levels vary based on whether you are male or female, and not all sources agree about what levels are healthy. For men, levels between 24 and 336 nanograms per milliliter are normal, and for women, levels between 11 and 307 nanograms per milliliter are normal, according to MayoClinic.com. However, men should have levels between 12 and 300 nanograms per milliliter and women should have levels between 12 and 150 nanograms per milliliter, according to MedlinePlus.
Low Ferritin Levels
Ferritin levels that are lower than normal point to iron deficiency or anemia. These low levels can be due to intestinal problems that limit iron absorption, heavy menstrual periods or long-term bleeding in the intestine. Your doctor will try to determine the cause of your low iron and may prescribe iron supplements to bring your iron levels up to normal.
High Ferritin Levels
A number of health conditions can cause high ferritin levels. These include multiple blood transfusions, hemochromatosis, alcoholic liver disease, porphyria, rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism, liver disease, leukemia, type 2 diabetes and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Your doctor will want to do further tests to determine the cause of your high iron levels, so she can prescribe the best treatment for your condition.
Considerations
Although you don't need to fast before a ferritin test, you may need to stop taking certain medications, since these can interfere with the results. If your ferritin levels fall within the low end of the normal range, you may be slightly deficient in iron. Eating more iron-rich foods can help to correct this in the absence of other health problems.
