iron · FERR
Ferritin
Ferritin reflects iron stores. Low ferritin is the earliest sign of iron deficiency; high ferritin can reflect iron overload OR simply inflammation (it is an acute-phase reactant).
This page is general wellness education, not medical advice. Your own lab’s reference range and your clinician’s interpretation always take precedence.
Typical reference range
| Group | General range |
|---|---|
| Men | 30 – 400 ng/mL |
| Women | 15 – 150 ng/mL |
Units: ng/mL. Ranges vary by lab and assay — read yours against the range printed on your own report.
What high Ferritin can mean
- Inflammation/infection
- Iron overload (hemochromatosis)
- Liver disease
- Alcohol
What low Ferritin can mean
- Iron deficiency
- Blood loss (incl. menstruation)
- Low dietary iron
- Malabsorption