Ferritin — Iron Storage
Ferritin reflects the body iron storage. Low ferritin precedes anaemia and shows up first as fatigue, brittle hair, restless legs, or breathlessness on exertion.
Ferritin reflects the body's iron storage, the reserve your body draws on before anaemia sets in. Low ferritin precedes anaemia and shows up first as fatigue, brittle hair, restless legs, or shortness of breath on exertion, while very high values point to inflammation or iron overload.
Watch the 32-second version
Ferritin drops long before anaemia shows up on a blood count.
Transcript & sources → All videosMr. Age is AgeGen's editorial character. Facts come from the protocol above.
The biomarker
- Name: Ferritin
- Units: ng/mL
- Standard reference range: 15–150 (women); 30–400 (men)
- Optimal range: 50–150 (women); 70–200 (men)
How to read your result
| Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| < 30 | Low stores — symptoms likely |
| 30–50 | Borderline |
| 50–200 | Optimal range |
| ≥ 300 + normal CRP | Investigate haemochromatosis |
What moves the needle
- Low. Iron-rich foods, paired with vitamin C; consider supplement if persistent.
- High. Avoid iron supplements, check CRP and ferritin trend.
- Testing. Retest 3 months after change.
Why this test is worth asking for
- Ferritin falls before anaemia appears, so it catches depleting iron stores while symptoms are still vague.
- Early low-iron signs — fatigue, brittle hair, restless legs, breathlessness on exertion — are non-specific and rarely traced back to the deficit without this number.
- Read alongside CRP, a very high value distinguishes inflammation from true iron overload.
Related protocols
- Iron Studies — Serum Iron, TIBC and Transferrin Saturation
- Zinc — Immune + Hormone Cofactor
- Vitamin D — 25-Hydroxyvitamin D
Sources
AgeGen lab guides are educational only. We do not provide medical diagnosis, prescribe brands, or recommend specific doses. Talk to a licensed clinician before changing your supplement or medication routine.
