Ferritin is a protein in your cells that stores and releases iron. Although ferritin plays an important function within your cells, measuring your ferritin levels is a good way to see how much iron your body holds. Low ferritin levels indicate low iron levels that can lead to serious medical problems if not treated properly.
Checking Iron Levels
Doctors check your ferritin levels by drawing your blood and analyzing the amount of ferritin in your blood. Doctors normally order this type of test when they suspect that you hold too much or too little ferritin in your body, and to rule out iron deficiency or anemia. According to "Hematology in Clinical Practice," approximately 7 percent of women in the United States have iron deficiency or anemia as of 2010.
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Doctors can identify iron deficiency anemia through a blood test that measures hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels indicate an iron deficiency. After discovering low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in your blood, doctors will typically check your ferritin to confirm the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. According to "Hematology in Clinical Practice," low ferritin levels are one of the best indicators of iron deficiency anemia.
Symptoms and Treatment
According to "Ferritin in Iron Metabolism: Diagnostic Strategies," fatigue, dizziness and headaches are the most common symptoms associated with low ferritin levels. Additional symptoms include a loss of appetite, brittle nails, pale skin or eye color and irritability. To treat low ferritin levels, doctors will typically recommend iron supplements. Restoring ferritin levels to normal can take four months or longer so do not expect to see immediate results from the iron supplementation.
High Ferritin Levels
High ferritin levels can also indicate health problems. High ferritin levels typically result when your body absorbs and stores too much iron. In many cases, high ferritin levels result from genetic diseases such as hemochromatosis. Doctors can test for high ferritin levels using the same type of blood test. Treatment for high ferritin levels usually involves treatment of the underlying disease or disorder.
References
- "Ferritin in Iron Metabolism: Diagnostic Strategies"; M. Wick, W. Pinggera and P. Lehmann; 1992
- "Exposing the Hidden Dangers of Iron: What Every Medical Professional Should Know about the Impact of Iron on the Disease Process"; E.D. Weinberg; 2004
- "Hematology in Clinical Practice, Fifth Edition (LANGE Clinical Medicine)";Robert Hillman, Kenneth Ault, Michael Leoporrier and Henry Rinder; 2010
- "Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology"; John E. Hall; 2010
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