Lever
Lifestyle
- Regular moderate exercise
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
Blutwerte · Marker
Ferritin
Serum Ferritin · Eisenspeicher
Eisen & Anämie
- Einheit:
- ng/mL
Ferritin test quantifies the amount of ferritin, a protein that stores iron, in the blood.
Reference Ranges
Reference
8–300ng/mL
8
50
150
300
LowNormalHigh
Reference
Optimal
Unit · ng/mLReference ranges vary by sex; women typically have lower ferritin levels than men.
Overview
Übersicht
Ferritin is a ubiquitous intracellular protein that stores iron and releases it in a controlled fashion. It acts as a buffer against iron deficiency and iron overload. Serum ferritin, the circulating form, is a reflection of the body's iron stores and is commonly measured to assess iron status. Researchers have found that ferritin levels can be influenced by various factors, including inflammation and liver disease, which may complicate its interpretation. Clinically, ferritin is a critical marker for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia and monitoring iron overload disorders such as hemochromatosis. Elevated serum ferritin can also indicate conditions like metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and certain cancers. In the context of athletic performance and biohacking, maintaining optimal ferritin levels is crucial for oxygen transport and energy metabolism, which are essential for endurance and recovery. However, athletes should be cautious as intense physical activity can transiently elevate ferritin levels due to inflammation. Caveats in interpreting ferritin levels include the influence of acute phase reactions, infections, and chronic diseases, which can elevate ferritin independently of iron status. Additionally, fasting is not required for ferritin testing, but consistent timing of tests may help in tracking trends.
Klinische Bedeutung
Elevated ferritin levels may indicate iron overload disorders, inflammation, liver disease, or malignancy. Reduced ferritin levels are indicative of iron deficiency, which can lead to anemia.
Dynamics
Trend Interpretation
Rising Values
Progressively rising ferritin levels may suggest iron overload or an inflammatory process. Re-testing in 4-6 weeks is recommended to confirm trends.
Falling Values
Falling ferritin levels could indicate improving iron overload or worsening iron deficiency.
Re-test Interval
4 weeks if outside optimal range
Etiology
Causes — High & Low
Cause
Elevated Levels
- Iron overload disorders
- Chronic inflammation
- Liver disease
- Malignancy
- Metabolic syndrome
Cause
Low Levels
- Iron deficiency
- Chronic blood loss
- Malnutrition
- Celiac disease
- Pregnancy
Protocol
How to Optimize
Lever
Nutrition
- Consume iron-rich foods like red meat and leafy greens
- Include vitamin C-rich foods to enhance iron absorption
Lever
Supplementation
- Iron supplements
- Vitamin C
Note:
Consult a physician before supplementing iron, especially if iron overload is suspected.
Testing Guidelines
✓Fasting Not Required
✓Not Time-Sensitive
Testing Frequency
Annually for healthy adults, more frequently if iron deficiency or overload is suspected.
Interfering Factors
- Inflammation
- Recent intense exercise
- Infections
Related Peptides & Hormones
Hepcidin
hormone or peptideMay affect
Open Research Questions
Current research suggests that the reference ranges for serum ferritin, particularly in women, may lead to the underdiagnosis of iron deficiency, with calls for more realistic cutoffs. Researchers have not yet established optimal ferritin targets for various conditions, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and glioblastoma. Additionally, clinical questions remain unanswered regarding the confounding effects of inflammation and other factors on ferritin interpretation in diverse patient populations.
20 Research Publications
405
Total Citations
9
Human/RCT
2.8
Avg. Influence
2025
Latest
Sort
Filter
01Top
#01
Ferritin in atherosclerosis.
ReviewInfluence10.0
134
This study examined the relationship between elevated ferritin levels and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). Researchers found that increased ferritin levels are associated with a higher risk of CAD and myocardial infarction. The findings suggest that ferritin may serve as a biomarker for assessing CAD risk, although further studies are needed.
02Top
#02
Integrative clinical and preclinical studies identify FerroTerminator1 as a potent therapeutic drug for MASH.
HumanInfluence1.0
72
Researchers found that patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) have excess hepatic iron, which correlates with disease progression. FerroTerminator1 (FOT1) was effective in reversing liver injury in MASH models and may inhibit iron accumulation. Serum ferritin levels could serve as a predictive biomarker for FOT1 therapy in MASH.
03Top
#03
Diabetes in HFE Hemochromatosis.
ReviewInfluence3.0
60
This review examined the multifactorial nature of diabetes in individuals with HFE hemochromatosis. Researchers found that while serum ferritin levels are often elevated in hemochromatosis, they do not necessarily indicate diabetes risk. The study suggests that routine iron phenotyping in type 2 diabetes patients is not recommended.
04
#04
Sex, lies, and iron deficiency: a call to change ferritin reference ranges.
Martens Kylee & DeLoughery Thomas G · Hematology. American Society of Hematology. Education Program · 2023
ReviewInfluence1.0
40
This study highlighted that the current ferritin reference ranges may lead to underdiagnosis of iron deficiency, especially in women. Researchers found that a significant percentage of healthy women may have no marrow iron stores, suggesting the need for revised ferritin cutoffs. The authors advocate for establishing more realistic ferritin ranges.
Key findings
- 01Researchers found that 30%-50% of healthy women may have no iron stores despite normal ferritin levels.
- 02They observed that the current reference ranges for ferritin often lead to underdiagnosis of iron deficiency in women.
- 03The study suggests that a more accurate physiological ferritin cutoff should be around 50 ng/mL.
05
#05
Iron and iron-related proteins in alcohol consumers: cellular and clinical aspects.
Review
24
Researchers reviewed the impact of alcohol consumption on iron and iron-related proteins, noting that alcohol consumers often exhibit dysregulated iron levels. The study highlighted the importance of examining iron parameters for early diagnosis and management of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). Various alterations in iron-related laboratory values were documented.
06
#06
Hereditary Hyperferritinemia.
Review
19
Researchers observed that serum ferritin is a common biomarker for assessing iron storage but can be influenced by various factors, complicating its interpretation. Hyperferritinemia is frequently found in both genetic and acquired conditions. The review emphasizes the need for a thorough diagnostic strategy to identify the causes of elevated ferritin levels.
07
#07
Ferritin in glioblastoma.
Human
19
Researchers found that glioblastoma patients have elevated serum ferritin levels, which may not serve as a reliable tumor marker due to the complex relationship between ferritin synthesis and tumor biology. The study also noted that glioma cells release ferritin, which has apoptosis-stimulating activity, indicating a potential role in tumor growth regulation.
08
#08
The origin of ferritin reference intervals: a systematic review.
Truong Judy, et al. · The Lancet. Haematology · 2024
Review
13
This study examined the reference intervals for serum ferritin in healthy adults and found that current lower limits may contribute to underdiagnosis of iron deficiency. The median lower limit of normal was significantly lower than the clinically accepted threshold of 30 μg/L. The authors suggest using evidence-based clinical decision limits for diagnosing iron deficiency.
Key findings
- 01Researchers observed that the median lower limit of normal ferritin levels was significantly lower than the clinically accepted threshold of 30 μg/L.
- 02Nearly half of the studies reviewed did not screen for patients at risk of iron deficiency, potentially skewing results.
- 03The reference intervals reported in the literature are at high risk of bias due to methodological flaws in the studies.
09
#09
Hyperferritinemia Screening to Aid Identification and Differentiation of Patients with Hyperinflammatory Disorders.
HumanInfluence1.0
10
Researchers observed that high ferritin levels are a sensitive biomarker for hyperinflammatory disorders such as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). An alert system was implemented to identify patients with inflammatory hyperferritinemia (IHF) and facilitate sample collection for further analysis. The study highlighted the distinct clinical profiles associated with elevated ferritin levels in different patient groups.
10
#10
Microcytic anemia.
ReviewInfluence1.0
10
Researchers found that low serum ferritin is the best single laboratory parameter for diagnosing iron deficiency in microcytic anemia. The study emphasizes the importance of differentiating iron deficiency from other types of anemia to avoid unnecessary iron therapy trials.
Publication Trend
Research publications about Ferritin over time
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