Ferritin Test: What Your Ferritin Level Means

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside your cells. A small amount circulates in the blood, and that blood level is used as a proxy for how much iron your body has in reserve.

Because ferritin also rises with inflammation and infection, a high ferritin does not always mean iron overload. It is best interpreted alongside serum iron, TIBC, and transferrin saturation.

Low ferritin is often the first sign of iron deficiency, even before hemoglobin drops and anemia develops. Symptoms can include fatigue, hair thinning, brittle nails, poor exercise recovery, restless legs, and difficulty concentrating.

High ferritin can reflect inflammation, infection, liver disease, alcohol use, or iron overload conditions such as hemochromatosis. Very high ferritin warrants further evaluation.

Dietary iron comes in two forms. Heme iron, from animal sources like red meat, poultry, and seafood, is absorbed more easily. Non-heme iron is found in beans, lentils, tofu, spinach, fortified cereals, and pumpkin seeds. Vitamin C-rich foods improve absorption of non-heme iron.

Menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, diet, digestive disorders, blood donation, intense endurance exercise, inflammation, infection, liver health, alcohol, and genetics can all affect ferritin. Women of menstruating age are far more likely to have low ferritin, while men more often present with high ferritin.