What Is Ferritin?
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in your body. Think of it as your iron savings account — it reflects how much iron your body has in reserve, not just what's circulating in your blood right now.
Why Ferritin Matters
Iron is essential for:
- Carrying oxygen in your red blood cells (via haemoglobin)
- Energy production in your cells
- Brain function and concentration
- Immune system function
- Hair, skin, and nail health
Normal Ferritin Ranges
| Group | Normal Range |
|---|---|
| Men | 30 – 400 µg/L |
| Women (pre-menopause) | 15 – 200 µg/L |
| Women (post-menopause) | 30 – 300 µg/L |
| Optimal (both) | 50 – 150 µg/L |
Symptoms of Low Ferritin
- Extreme tiredness and fatigue
- Shortness of breath on exertion
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Hair loss (one of the most common causes)
- Restless legs syndrome
- Brittle nails
- Poor concentration
- Frequent infections
- Cravings for ice or unusual substances (pica)
What Causes Low Ferritin?
- Heavy periods — The most common cause in pre-menopausal women
- Diet — Vegetarian/vegan diets, or simply not eating enough iron-rich foods
- Poor absorption — Coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or medications that reduce stomach acid
- Blood loss — Including blood donation, surgery, or gastrointestinal bleeding
- Pregnancy — Iron demands increase significantly
What About High Ferritin?
Elevated ferritin can indicate:
- Inflammation — Ferritin rises as part of the acute phase response (it's an inflammatory marker too)
- Liver disease — Including fatty liver
- Haemochromatosis — A genetic condition causing iron overload (common in people of Northern European descent)
- Infections — Particularly chronic ones
How to Improve Low Ferritin
1. Iron-rich foods — Red meat, liver, dark leafy greens, lentils, fortified cereals 2. Vitamin C — Take with iron-rich meals to boost absorption (citrus, peppers, tomatoes) 3. Avoid tea/coffee with meals — Tannins reduce iron absorption 4. Iron supplements — If diet alone isn't enough. Take on an empty stomach, or with vitamin C 5. Retest after 3 months — Iron stores take time to rebuild
Track Your Iron
Upload your blood tests to CheckMyBloods to track your ferritin, iron, transferrin, and haemoglobin together. Seeing these markers side by side gives a much clearer picture of your iron status than any single number.
