Iron is stored in your cells by the protein ferritin. Your body needs iron to carry out a variety of functions, but iron can also be toxic. Ferritin serves the role of providing a protective shield around iron to prevent damage to other cells, but the iron is made available whenever your body needs it. Your ferritin level tells how much iron you have stored in your body, and low ferritin level is usually an indication of iron deficiency. The deficiency may be caused by a number of problems, one of the most common being iron deficiency anemia.
The Ferritin Test
Ferritin level is determined by a blood test, and the result will help your doctor decide if your iron stores are depleted. A serum ferritin level below 12 ng/ml in either a male or female is considered abnormal. Once this has been established, further tests may have to be done to find out the exact cause of the iron deficiency and how it should be treated.
Normal Iron and Low Ferritin
The amount of iron in your blood can be normal while your ferritin level is low. The iron stored by ferritin is used by the body when iron is not available from other sources like diet. When you are iron deficient, your body is forced to use the iron stored by ferritin. This iron is released, keeping your iron levels normal, but depleting the amount stored in ferritin. Low ferritin tells you that your stored iron is being used up. Your serum iron level will begin to drop as the ferritin stored iron diminishes, and iron deficiency anemia results since there is no longer a backup store to replenish the iron being used.
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Your body uses iron in the production of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is required to move oxygen through your body, and without an adequate supply you may experience tiredness and shortness of breath. Iron deficiency anemia is characterized by hemoglobin concentrations of less than 120 g/L in females and 130 g/L in males. The recommended daily allowance of iron is 8 mg/day for males 19 years and over, 18 mg/d for females age 19 to 50 years, and 8 mg/day for females age 51 and above. A daily supplement can help you meet your needs if you are not getting enough iron in your diet, but consult your doctor before taking any supplements.
Other Causes of Iron Deficiency
Since iron is used in making red blood cells, blood loss will cause your iron levels to go down, prompting the use of ferritin stored iron and causing your ferritin level to decrease. Heavy menstrual bleeding or intestinal bleeding can lead to iron deficiency that results in low ferritin levels. People who have problems absorbing ingested iron from the intestines can also become iron deficient, with attending low ferritin levels.
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