What is Ferritin? Low and High Ferritin

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body. It is found especially in the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Ferritin ensures that iron is stored regularly in the body and helps to release it when needed.

Ferritin plays an important role in regulating iron levels in the body. Iron is a critical element in many biological processes, such as oxygen transport, energy metabolism and DNA synthesis. However, excessive accumulation of iron can also be harmful and lead to oxidative stress and other health problems.

Ferritin levels are usually measured with a blood test. When ferritin levels are within the normal range, it is thought that the body has sufficient iron storage. When ferritin levels are low, there may be iron deficiency, which can lead to health problems such as iron deficiency anemia. However, when ferritin levels are high, there may be problems such as iron storage diseases such as hemochromatosis. Therefore, it is important to monitor ferritin levels and apply appropriate treatment.

Low Ferritin

Ferritin refers to the protein that stores iron in the body. Low ferritin is a sign that the body does not have enough iron storage capacity and is likely causing iron deficiency anemia. This can cause various disorders.

Symptoms of Low Ferritin:

While low ferritin may not show any symptoms in some people, others may experience the following symptoms:

Fatigue

Weakness

Paleness

Dizziness

Breathlessness

Palpitations

Being more vulnerable to infections such as colds

Depression or anxiety

Hair loss

Broken nails

Causes of Low Ferritin:

Many factors can cause low ferritin. These are:

Iron malnutrition: Not taking enough iron with diet

Blood loss: Regular or excessive blood loss such as menstrual bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding

Iron absorption disorders: Intestinal diseases such as celiac disease and Crohn’s disease can reduce iron absorption

Pregnancy: Iron requirement increases during pregnancy and low ferritin is common during pregnancy

Kidney failure: In people with kidney failure, erythropoietin hormone cannot be produced sufficiently and this can lead to iron deficiency

Chronic diseases: Some chronic diseases such as chronic inflammatory diseases increase iron usage in the body

Diagnosis of Low Ferritin:

Diagnosis of low ferritin is made with a blood test. The test that measures the ferritin level is the ferritin test.

Treatment of Low Ferritin

Ferritin is a protein that indicates iron stores. Low ferritin can be an indicator of iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia can cause symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness.

Treatment for low ferritin depends on the underlying cause. Common treatments include:

Iron supplements: Iron supplements are the most common way to raise ferritin levels. They can be taken in tablet, capsule or syrup form.

Dietary changes: Eating iron-rich foods can also help raise ferritin levels. Iron-rich foods include red meat, poultry, fish, beans, lentils and dark green leafy vegetables.

Intravenous iron: If iron supplements don’t work or if your iron deficiency anemia is severe, you may need intravenous iron. This is iron therapy given directly into a vein.

It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully if you’re being treated for low ferritin. Iron supplements can cause side effects such as constipation or nausea in some people.

Talk to your doctor or dietitian for more information about how to raise your ferritin levels.

Here are some additional tips that can help increase your ferritin levels:

Eat foods rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron. Oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, and broccoli are some foods rich in vitamin C.

Avoid beverages that contain caffeine and tannins, which can interfere with iron absorption. Coffee, tea, and cola are some beverages that contain caffeine and tannins.

Take your iron supplements with meals. This can help reduce side effects.

It is important to have regular blood tests to monitor your ferritin levels.

High Ferritin

High ferritin refers to having higher than normal levels of ferritin in the body. High ferritin can often be caused by a number of different conditions and can be a sign of a health problem. Some common causes include:

Iron Storage Diseases: Iron storage diseases, such as hemochromatosis, can cause excess iron to accumulate in the body. In this case, ferritin levels can rise well above normal.

Liver Diseases: Liver diseases, especially conditions such as liver inflammation or fatty liver, can increase ferritin.

Inflammation: When there is an inflammation or inflammatory process in the body, ferritin levels may increase. In this case, ferritin levels may return to normal after a while.

Chronic Diseases: Chronic diseases such as chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and some types of cancer can cause ferritin levels to increase.

Iron Supplementation: In case of excessive iron supplementation, excess iron accumulation in the body and consequently increased ferritin levels may be observed.

Increased ferritin levels should usually be evaluated by a health professional and the underlying cause should be determined. Treatment will depend on the treatment of the underlying health problem causing the high ferritin.

Treatment of High Ferritin

High ferritin is usually the result of an underlying health problem, so treatment will depend on determining the underlying problem causing the high ferritin. The following treatment methods can be applied to control ferritin levels:

Controlling Iron Levels: If high ferritin is caused by iron storage disease or excessive iron intake, treatment can be applied to lower iron levels. This can be done with methods such as blood collection (venous phlebotomy) or iron-binding drugs.

Treating the Underlying Health Problem: Since high ferritin is usually a symptom of an underlying health problem, treating the underlying problem is also important. For example, conditions such as liver disease, inflammation, cancer or chronic kidney disease should be treated.

Reducing Iron Supplementation: If high ferritin is caused by iron supplementation, stopping or reducing iron supplementation may be considered. However, iron supplementation may need to be continued in case of iron deficiency, so it is important to discuss this with your doctor.

Practice a Healthy Lifestyle: A healthy lifestyle can help improve overall health and control ferritin levels. Factors such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and adequate sleep can help regulate ferritin levels.

Treatment options can vary depending on the specific condition causing your high ferritin, so it’s important to work with a healthcare professional to determine treatment.