The WHO defines low ferritin as levels <15 μg/L for adults and <12 μg/L for children. However, in clinical practice, when ferritin levels dip below 30 μg/L, ID can be ascertained. Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant that is increased in serum during chronic inflammation.
Iron deficiency is diagnosed when ferritin is <30μg/L in adults and < 20μg/L in children. When ferritin is not elevated as an acute phase reactant, a value >30μg/L is normal. Ferritin can be as high as 100μg/L in adults and 150μg/L in children with iron deficiency and inflammation.
Persistent fatigue, breathlessness, rapid heart rate, pale skin, or any other symptoms of anemia; seek emergency care for any trouble breathing or change in your heart beat.
PA This raises an important question regarding the appropriate normal range for serum ferritin levels. Many laboratories consider serum ferritin levels greater than 200 ng/mL in women and greater than 300 ng/mL in men to be abnormal.
In patients with chronic inflammation, iron deficiency anemia is likely when the ferritin level is less than 50 ng per mL (112.35 pmol per L). Ferritin values greater than or equal to 100 ng per mL (224.70 pmol per L) generally exclude iron deficiency anemia.
Patients receiving ongoing chemotherapy who present with anemia (Hgb ≤ 11 g/dL or Hgb decrease ≥ 2 g/dL from a baseline level ≤ 12 g/dL) and absolute iron deficiency (ID) (serum ferritin < 100 ng/mL) should receive iron treatment with an intravenous (IV) iron preparation to correct ID.
Because ferritin is a storage protein for iron, low ferritin levels are not the cause of anaemia, instead, low iron levels are the cause of iron deficiency or iron deficiency anaemia.
Hypoferritinemia caused by decreased iron intake, as part of the general poor diet, or due to low gastrointestinal absorption that happens to postbariatric surgery. It also happens in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease, hemorrhoids, colon cancer, peptic ulcer, menorrhagia, and hematuria.
Left untreated, however, iron-deficiency anemia can make you feel tired and weak. You may notice pale skin and cold hands and feet. Iron-deficiency anemia can also cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Occasionally, it can cause chest pain, a fast heartbeat and shortness of breath.
Normal Results
The normal value ranges for blood ferritin are: Male: 12 to 300 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) Female: 12 to 150 ng/mL.
Or you might feel tired and out of breath.” Depending on the cause of anemia, iron levels could fall to dangerously low levels. This could happen if you were losing blood from gastrointestinal bleeding, for instance. You might even feel dizzy or pass out.
Severe iron-deficiency anemia may require a blood transfusion, iron injections, or intravenous (IV) iron therapy. Treatment may need to be done in a hospital.
If your ferritin levels are too low, you may feel fatigued and run down. Fatigue can often be linked to inadequate iron in the blood. And since ferritin is a marker of long-term iron intake, it's perfect for determining whether that worn-down feeling can be linked to your diet.
Low ferritin: defined as ferritin levels < 30 ng/mL; normal ferritin: 30–200 ng/mL in women and 30–300 ng/mL in men; and high ferritin: >200 ng/mL in women and >300 ng/mL in men.
A doctor may recommend iron supplements to increase ferritin levels. People can take oral iron supplements at home. However, they should only use them under the supervision of a doctor. In severe cases of anemia, they may require treatment with intravenous iron.
You may also find that low iron causes weight gain. There are a couple of reasons for this; firstly, your energy levels are low and so your exercise levels reduce; secondly, iron is essential for thyroid function, and an underactive thyroid will lead to weight gain.
A sudden lack of energy and chronic fatigue are warning signs that you might be lacking enough iron. In order for all of the cells in your body to function efficiently, oxygen needs to be able to travel freely around the body.
Severe iron deficiency anaemia may increase your risk of developing complications that affect the heart or lungs, such as an abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia) or heart failure, where your heart is unable to pump enough blood around your body at the right pressure.
Lower than normal ferritin levels may mean you have iron deficiency anemia, or another condition related to low iron levels. Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia, in which your body doesn't make enough red blood cells.
There are many potential reasons for low ferritin levels, including diseases that impair absorption of iron, such as celiac disease, Crohn's and more. If you're dealing with a condition in this category, foods and supplements won't necessarily help.
A low ferritin level likely means you may have an iron deficiency. If the body does not have enough stored iron, it can affect the production of healthy red blood cells and cause iron deficiency anemia.
In this disease, iron deficiency-related changes could also be observed in response to pain at the central nervous system level. FMS patients with iron deficiency in the present study had higher depression and anxiety levels and poor sleep quality, although the differences were not significant.