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Dec
The body uses iron to produce the hemoglobin that is critical for the red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues of the body. Iron attaches to red blood cells.
Only small amounts of ferritin circulate through the blood.
What low ferritin means. Low ferritin level is a sign of iron deficiency. This happens when your body does not obtain a sufficient amount of iron. People who are suffering from anemia do not have enough red blood cells in their bodies.
Iron attaches to red blood cells. If red blood cells are low iron is also low. Blood ferritin is an indirect indicator of the total amount of iron stored in the body.
Low ferritin levels signal that the bodys iron stores are low. Higher levels on the other hand may indicate that you have a condition that causes the body to store too much iron 2. The most common causes of low ironferritin include.
Heavy bleeding as is seen with a heavy menstrual flow or with heavy cycles Gastrointestinal malabsorption This is a big cause and one we will discuss at length below Chronic internal bleeding usually seen with gastrointestinal bleeding. Low ferritin count means that either or many of these functions can be affected which can affect your health in many ways. Ferritin is released only when the cells receive the signals to release them for the production of red blood cells.
Low ferritin levels are typically caused by a low level of iron in the blood. If you have low ferritin it doesnt mean that youre clinically deficient in iron but you could be on your way to developing a true iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia. Other low ferritin causes include the use of certain medications like antacids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs.
When you have low ferritin levels you will also have low iron levels. Iron carries oxygen via the red blood cells. When iron levels drop less oxygen travels through the body.
Initially you will experience shortness of breath perspiration and fatigue. Low ferritin levels A result of low ferritin is strong evidence of an iron deficiency. The body requires iron to make hemoglobin which is a protein in red blood cells that transfers oxygen from the lungs around the body.
Without enough iron a person may develop anemia. Consequently what is the difference between ferritin and iron levels. So if your ferritin is normal and your transferrin saturation is high then your blood is very saturated in iron a sign of iron toxicity.
On the other hand if your ferritin is low and your transferrin saturation is low then this can be a sign of true iron deficiency. You have both little iron in the blood and youre not storing much either. Doctors order a ferritin test if other blood tests point to possible anemia which can lead to a lack of oxygen in your blood.
It can show if there is too much or too little iron in your body. What does your iron test mean. If you have high serum iron levels and low ferritin you may want to check for underlying infections oral contraceptive use thyroid disorders and consider testing based on history for heavy metals especially lead.
Causes of low ferritin levels. A lower-than-normal ferritin level can indicate that you have an iron deficiency which can happen when you dont consume enough iron in your daily diet. While low ferritin levels can cause serious health problems in most cases it should be relatively easy for you to increase them.
By determining any outstanding health problems taking supplements and altering your diet you should be able to increase the ferritin levels in your blood. Part 1 of 3. Determining the Cause of Low Ferritin.
What Does Low Ferritin Mean. Ferritin is the major storage form of iron in the liver spleen muscle and bone. Only small amounts of ferritin circulate through the blood.
Transferrin is a protein. Low levels of ferritin are indicative of iron deficiency which causes anemia a reduction in the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Low levels of ferritin are seen in iron deficiency.
The body uses iron to produce the hemoglobin that is critical for the red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues of the body. Iron deficiency anemia or a decrease in red blood cells is the result.